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South Africa - Northern, Western Cape rabbits under threat after mystery disease emerges - Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) confirmed

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  • South Africa - Northern, Western Cape rabbits under threat after mystery disease emerges - Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) confirmed

    Northern, Western Cape rabbits under threat after mystery disease emerges

    Of particular concern is the effect the disease could have on the critically endangered riverine rabbit.

    Citizen Reporter
    16 Nov 2022
    8:54 am

    A disease yet to be identified has spread rapidly through the Western and Northern Cape, killing wild hare and rabbit species indiscriminately.

    The first death was of a scrub hare in October in the Sutherland area in the Northern Cape, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) reported.

    Rapid spread

    Since then, the disease, which appears to only affect rabbits and hares, has spread rapidly, as far as Springbok and Fraserburgh more than 500km away, to the Montague-Laingsburg area in the Western Cape.

    The most recent deaths of wild hares were reported to EWT in the Merweville and Beaufort West regions. The disease has also affected domestic rabbits in Cape Town and surrounding areas.

    Of particular concern is the effect the disease could have on the critically endangered riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), an elusive species endemic to the central Karoo region.
    ...
    Due to the highly contagious nature of the mysterious disease, members of the public are urged not to handle any rabbit carcasses, as this could spread the disease further.

    Any contaminated surfaces and clothing must be washed with bleach.
    ...



    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

  • #2
    First-ever reports of rabbit disease in SA raises concerns

    Published 2h ago

    Cape Town – A rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) outbreak has been declared in the Western Cape and Northern Cape.

    It was the first time the disease had been detected in South Africa, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said on Thursday.

    The department urged residents to report any dead or dying rabbits or hares to the nearest state veterinarian for investigation.

    “The department received reports of a die-off of wild rabbits and hares from the Karoo areas in the Western and Northern Cape provinces.

    “State veterinary services, private veterinarians and the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment were involved in field investigations.

    “Post-mortems were performed and samples collected to confirm the cause of the deaths.

    “Diagnostic tests were performed at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Laboratory and the cause was confirmed as RHD,” said the department.
    ...

    https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news...e-878cb00aaad9


    -------------------------------------------

    SOUTH AFRICA

    Rabbit haemorrhagic disease outbreak detected for first time in SA

    17 November 2022 - 20:09
    BY TIMESLIVE

    Rabbit owners should ensure their animals are secured and must prevent any contact with other rabbits or hares, either directly or indirectly through people or equipment.

    The department of agriculture, land reform and rural development gave this warning on Thursday as it announced the outbreak of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in the Western Cape and Northern Cape.

    RHD is a disease caused by a virus (Calicivirus) and this is the first detection of the disease in SA. The department said the disease results in a high number of deaths in rabbits and hares. The animals die suddenly with bleeding in organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen.
    ...
    Rabbit owners should ensure their animals are secured and must prevent any contact with other rabbits or hares, either directly or indirectly through people or equipment.
    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

    Comment


    • #3
      bump this

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      • #4
        South Africa - Rabbit haemorrhagic disease - Immediate notification

        GENERAL INFORMATION
        COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
        COUNTRY/TERRITORY

        ANIMAL TYPE
        TERRESTRIAL

        DISEASE CATEGORY
        OIE-listed

        EVENT ID
        4727

        DISEASE
        Rabbit haemorrhagic disease

        CAUSAL AGENT
        Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

        GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
        Pending

        START DATE
        2022/08/31

        REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
        First occurrence in the country

        DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
        -

        CONFIRMATION DATE
        2022/11/14

        EVENT STATUS
        On-going

        END DATE
        -

        SELF-DECLARATION
        NO

        REPORT INFORMATION
        REPORT NUMBER
        Immediate notification

        REPORT ID
        IN_157888

        REPORT REFERENCE
        RHD_2022_IN

        REPORT DATE
        2022/11/18

        REPORT STATUS
        Validated

        NO EVOLUTION REPORT
        -

        EPIDEMIOLOGY

        SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
        Unknown or inconclusive

        EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
        No epidemiological comment

        ...

        NEW OUTBREAKS
        OB_108923 - RHD_2022_001
        OUTBREAK REFERENCE
        RHD_2022_001

        START DATE
        2022/08/31

        END DATE
        -

        DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
        -

        FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
        Northern Cape

        SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
        Namakwa

        THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
        Karoo Hoogland

        EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
        Other

        LOCATION
        RHD_2022_001

        Latitude, Longitude
        -31.1 , 20.8

        (Approximate location)
        OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
        -

        MEASURING UNIT
        Animal

        AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
        -

        SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
        Leporidae (unidentified) (WILD)
        NEW-100100 000
        TOTAL-100100 00

        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment


        • JJackson
          JJackson commented
          Editing a comment
          The total should read 100cases, 100deaths, the formatting of the table was lost in pasting.

      • #5
        CHIEF DIRECTORATE: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
        Private Bag X833, Pretoria, 0001; 184 Jeff Masemola Street, Pretoria, 0001
        Tel: 012 - 312 8511; E-mail: queries@drdlr.gov.za; Website: www.dalrrd.gov.za

        MEDIA STATEMENT 17 NOVEMBER 2022

        THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THE OUTBREAK OF RABBIT
        HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE (RHD) IN THE WESTERN AND
        NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCES


        The department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
        which to announce the outbreak of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
        (RHD) in the Western and Northern Cape provinces.

        The department received reports of die-offs of wild rabbits and hares from
        the Karoo areas in the Western and Northern Cape Provinces. State
        Veterinary Services, Private Veterinarians and the Department of Forestry
        Fisheries and the Environment were involved in field investigations.

        Postmortems were performed and samples collected to confirm the cause
        of the deaths. Diagnostic tests were performed at the Onderstepoort
        Veterinary Research Laboratory and the cause was confirmed as Rabbit
        Haemorrhagic disease (RHD).

        RHD is a disease caused by a virus (Calicivirus) and this is the first
        detection of the disease in South Africa. The disease results in a high
        number of deaths in rabbits and hares and animals die suddenly with
        bleeding in the organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen. At this stage
        it is still unclear how the disease could have entered the country, since
        the importation of rabbits and hares is not allowed.
        Investigations are
        underway to determine whether illegal importation could be the source.

        Control of RHD in rabbitries relies mainly on vaccination, but the vaccine
        is not available in South Africa. This increases the importance of
        biosecurity measures in rabbitries and anywhere where rabbits or hares
        are kept.
        Rabbit owners are advised to ensure that their rabbits are
        secured and must prevent any contact with other rabbits or hares, either
        directly or indirectly through people or equipment.

        Biosecurity measures are difficult to implement in wild populations. The
        occurrence of RHD in the Karoo is therefore of great concern, as our
        indigenous Red Rock rabbit, endangered Riverine rabbit and hare species
        are highly susceptible to this disease.

        Carcasses of RHD-infected rabbits may be a major source for viral
        spreading, since the virus seems to be highly resistant and stable, even
        when exposed to harsh environmental conditions.

        Members of the public are encouraged to please report any dead or dying
        rabbits or hares to the nearest State Veterinarian for investigation.

        -END

        Issued by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural
        Development:

        • Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson: Mr Reggie Ngcobo,
        0662980980 or MLO.Minister@dalrrd.gov.za.
        • Eviction Toll-free Number 0800 007 095



        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment


        • #6
          South Africa - Rabbit haemorrhagic disease - Follow up report 1

          GENERAL INFORMATION
          COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
          COUNTRY/TERRITORY

          ANIMAL TYPE
          TERRESTRIAL

          DISEASE CATEGORY
          OIE-listed

          EVENT ID
          4727

          DISEASE
          Rabbit haemorrhagic disease

          CAUSAL AGENT
          Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

          GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
          Pending

          START DATE
          2022/08/31

          REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
          First occurrence in the country

          DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
          -

          CONFIRMATION DATE
          2022/11/14

          EVENT STATUS
          On-going

          END DATE
          -

          SELF-DECLARATION
          NO

          REPORT INFORMATION
          REPORT NUMBER
          Follow-up report 1

          REPORT ID
          FUR_158254

          REPORT REFERENCE
          RHD_2022_FU1

          REPORT DATE
          2022/12/13

          REPORT STATUS
          Validated

          NO EVOLUTION REPORT
          -

          EPIDEMIOLOGY

          SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
          Unknown or inconclusive

          EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
          No epidemiological comment

          ...

          NEW OUTBREAKS

          OB_110274 - RHD_2022_039 - RHD_2022_039
          OB_110273 - RHD_2022_038 - RHD_2022_038
          OB_110272 - RHD_2022_023 - RHD_2022_023
          OB_110271 - RHD_2022_036 - RHD_2022_036
          OB_110270 - RHD_2022_035 - RHD_2022_035
          OB_110269 - RHD_2022_034 - RHD_2022_034
          OB_110268 - RHD_2022_033 - RHD_2022_033
          OB_110267 - RHD_2022_032 - RHD_2022_032
          OB_110266 - RHD_2022_031 - RHD_2022_031
          OB_110265 - RHD_2022_030 - RHD_2022_030
          OB_110264 - RHD_2022_029 - RHD_2022_029
          OB_110263 - RHD_2022_028 - RHD_2022_028
          OB_110262 - RHD_2022_027 - RHD_2022_027
          OB_110261 - RHD_2022_026 - RHD_2022_026
          OB_110260 - RHD_2022_025 - RHD_2022_025
          OB_110259 - RHD_2022_024 - RHD_2022_024
          OB_110257 - RHD_2022_022 - RHD_2022_022
          OB_110256 - RHD_2022_021 - RHD_2022_021
          OB_110255 - RHD_2022_020 - RHD_2022_020
          OB_110254 - RHD_2022_019 - RHD_2022_019
          OB_110253 - RHD_2022_018 - RHD_2022_018
          OB_110252 - RHD_2022_017 - RHD_2022_017
          OB_110251 - RHD_2022_016 - RHD_2022_016
          OB_110250 - RHD_2022_015 - RHD_2022_015
          OB_110249 - RHD_2022_014 - RHD_2022_014
          OB_110248 - RHD_2022_013 - RHD_2022_013
          OB_110247 - RHD_2022_012 - RHD_2022_012
          OB_110246 - RHD_2022_011 - RHD_2022_011
          OB_110245 - RHD_2022_010 - RHD_2022_010
          OB_110244 - RHD_2022_009 - RHD_2022_009
          OB_110243 - RHD_2022_008 - RHD_2022_008
          OB_110242 - RHD_2022_007 - RHD_2022_007
          OB_110241 - RHD_2022_006 - RHD_2022_006
          OB_110240 - RHD_2022_005 - RHD_2022_005
          OB_110239 - RHD_2022_004 - RHD_2022_004
          OB_110238 - RHD_2022_003 - RHD_2022_003
          OB_110237 - RHD_2022_002 - RHD_2022_002

          UPDATED OUTBREAKS

          OB_108923 - RHD_2022_001 - RHD_2022_001

          ...
          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
          -Nelson Mandela

          Comment


          • #7
            bump this

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