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

[Pathfinder]

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.
...

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/local-news/disease-killing-rabbits-hares-november-2022/

 

[Pathfinder]

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


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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.
...
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/so...sease-outbreak-detected-for-first-time-in-sa/

 

[sharon sanders]

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[Pathfinder]

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

https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4727

 

[JJackson]

The total should read 100cases, 100deaths, the formatting of the table was lost in pasting.

 

[Pathfinder]

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

https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/docs/medi...n the Western and Northern Cape provinces.pdf

https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/Home/aid/1465

 

[Pathfinder]

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

...
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4727

 

[sharon sanders]

bump this