SCDNR: Rabbit disease concerns South Carolina wildlife officials
Rabbit disease concerns South Carolina wildlife officials. (Source: SCDNR)
By WTOC Staff | April 20, 2021 at 10:31 AM EDT - Updated April 20 at 10:31 AM
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WTOC) - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officials are concerned about a rabbit disease they say affects wild and domestic rabbits and is nearly always fatal.
According to SCDNR, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus-2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious disease that affects all rabbits. Fortunately, humans are not susceptible to RHDV2, but they can inadvertently spread the virus.
“This is a highly contagious disease that can persist in the environment for a very long time,” said Michael Hook in a statement, Small Game Project leader with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). “These factors make disease control efforts extremely challenging once it is in wild rabbit populations.”