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Highly contagious rare virus kills W. Washington rabbit
By DON JENKINS Capital Press 4 hrs ago
A pet rabbit in Western Washington died of a highly contagious disease found only once before in the U.S., according to officials.
The 2-year-old, male European dwarf rabbit on Orcas Island was killed by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, the state Department of Agriculture said Monday.
The department has not discovered how the rabbit was infected, a spokesman said. It was the only rabbit on the property, he said.
The owner told the department the rabbit went to the San Juan County Fair last year, but has not traveled since then, the spokesman said.
The first symptoms of the disease can take up to nine days after infection to show, according to animal health officials. There is no vaccine.
The agriculture department asked owners to not take rabbits off Orcas Island. The virus infects European rabbits that are popular to exhibit at fairs.
The rabbits shed the virus in feces and urine. It can be spread from rabbit to rabbit, but also picked up and carried by biting insects, birds, rodents and by contaminated clothing and equipment, according to officials...
Highly contagious rare virus kills W. Washington rabbit
By DON JENKINS Capital Press 4 hrs ago
A pet rabbit in Western Washington died of a highly contagious disease found only once before in the U.S., according to officials.
The 2-year-old, male European dwarf rabbit on Orcas Island was killed by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, the state Department of Agriculture said Monday.
The department has not discovered how the rabbit was infected, a spokesman said. It was the only rabbit on the property, he said.
The owner told the department the rabbit went to the San Juan County Fair last year, but has not traveled since then, the spokesman said.
The first symptoms of the disease can take up to nine days after infection to show, according to animal health officials. There is no vaccine.
The agriculture department asked owners to not take rabbits off Orcas Island. The virus infects European rabbits that are popular to exhibit at fairs.
The rabbits shed the virus in feces and urine. It can be spread from rabbit to rabbit, but also picked up and carried by biting insects, birds, rodents and by contaminated clothing and equipment, according to officials...