Rabbit Hemorrhagic

Disease: Questions

and Answers

Q. What is rabbit hemorrhagic disease?

A. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a highly

infectious viral disease of the European rabbit

(Oryctolagus cuniculus). This is the species from

which all U.S. domestic and commercial rabbits are

derived. American cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits

are not susceptible to RHD.

Q. Does this disease affect people?

A. No.

Q. Does RHD affect other animals?

A. No.

Q. What are the clinical signs of RHD?

A. Rabbits die suddenly within 6 to 24 hours of the

onset of a fever with few other clinical signs. Fever

may be has high as 105 °F, but often is not detected

until rabbits show terminal clinical signs. RHD damages the liver and intestines and causes significant

hemorrhage (bleeding) into many different organs.

The death rate ranges from 50 to 100 percent.

Q. Is there an effective treatment?

A. No.

Q. Is there a vaccine?

A. No vaccine is legally available for use in the

United States. Vaccine has been used in parts of the

world where the disease occurs in wild rabbits.

Vaccination can reduce the number of rabbits dying

from RHD but cannot eradicate the disease. Rabbits

vaccinated against RHD may become infected but

not show signs of disease, thereby allowing spread of

the virus as a carrier.

Q. How is RHD spread? 

A. RHD is highly contagious. Large amounts of virus

are passed in the droppings of infected rabbits. The

virus can then be spread onto the food of healthy

rabbits, infecting them following exposure to or consumption of the food. The virus can also be spread

by contact with rabbit products (such as hides and

meat), rodents, and contaminated objects, such as

cages, feeders, and clothing. Contaminated objects

may be a source of spread if not properly cleaned

and disinfected.

Q. What precautionary measures can be taken to

prevent RHD? 

A. To stop the spread of the disease, breeders and

pet owners should prevent contact between healthy

rabbits and infected rabbits and contaminated objects

(e.g., cages, feeders, and clothing). Where the health

status of a rabbit is unknown, keep in mind that

healthy–appearing rabbits can be in the early stages

of the disease and cause it to spread later.

Additionally, recovered rabbits appear healthy but can

be carriers and spread the disease to other rabbits.

Owners should be cautious and isolate new rabbits and rabbits returning from shows for at least 5

days prior to returning them to the herd. Owners

should also routinely clean and disinfect all equipment. After thorough cleaning, disinfect all equipment with a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9

parts water.

Q. How should suspected cases of RHD be 

reported? 

A. Veterinarians and rabbit owners who suspect that

a rabbit may have RHD should immediately contact

State or Federal animal health authorities.

For More Information

For more information on RHD, contact:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Veterinary Services, Emergency Management

4700 River Road, Unit 41

Riverdale, MD 20737–1231

Telephone: (301) 734–8073

Fax: (301) 734–7817

Factsheet

Veterinary Services June 2005

APHIS

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

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