• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Saturday, March 25, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
San Clemente Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Best of San Clemente
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Triton Football Preview
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Best of San Clemente
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Triton Football Preview
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
San Clemente Times
No Result
View All Result

Deadly Rabbit Virus Spreads to Capo Beach, San Clemente

Staff by Staff
July 9, 2020 9:31AM
in EYE ON SC, News Headlines
Deadly Rabbit Virus Spreads to Capo Beach, San Clemente
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Lillian Boyd

A deadly virus threatening both domestic and wild rabbits has been detected in Orange County, with infected rabbits being identified in Capistrano Beach and San Clemente.

Officials say Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) is not related to the novel coronavirus and does not affect humans or domestic animals other than rabbits.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, on May 11, RHDV2 was confirmed in a wild black-tailed jackrabbit collected from an area where more than 10 dead jackrabbits were found near Palm Springs and Riverside counties. Since this initial report, RHDV2 has been confirmed in the counties of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego.

Cindy Fischer has been a volunteer with the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter since 1995 and is currently the head rabbit volunteer.

“We’re now having to deal with two viruses,” Fischer said. “On top of all the precautions we’ve learned to take with coronavirus, now rabbit owners have another virus they need to mindful of.”

RHDV2 can spread quickly and can cause high mortality in affected rabbit populations. To date, the virus has only been detected in domestic rabbits, wild cottontails, and jackrabbits, but all lagomorph species (including pikas) may be susceptible. While it does not pose a threat to people or other animals, the virus spreads quickly.

“RHDV2 is spread through contact between infected rabbits, their meat or fur, respiratory fluids, urine, feces, contaminated soil or materials in contact with those items,” stated a release from the state wildlife department. “It can be easily spread to new areas by moving rabbits or contaminated items, and on shoes or clothing.”

The virus can also be spread by insects and scavengers after contact with sick or dead rabbits.

“Infected rabbits and jackrabbits may exhibit no symptoms leading up to their sudden death, or may suffer from fever, swelling, internal bleeding and liver necrosis,” the department statement said.

“The mortality rate is high. It’s not a pleasant sickness and not something I want my bunnies to get,” Fischer said. “The primary thing I want to stress is do not keep your rabbits outside. Make sure they are in the house; that’s a ton of protection right there.”

In the 2020 Southwest U.S. and Mexico outbreak, officials are reporting a death rate from RHDV2 of about 90%, according to rabbit.org.

According to the House Rabbit Society, rabbit owners should wash hands thoroughly before and after handling rabbits. Change clothes and wash them twice after contact with other rabbits.

“You should also leave your shoes outside your home,” Fischer said. “That’s something I’ve always practiced due to my upbringing but it’s especially important for me since I’m working with rabbits all day before coming home to my own rabbits.”

House Rabbit Society recommends disinfecting objects that may be contaminated, keeping mosquitos and flies out and knowing your hay and feed sources and whether they are located in outbreak areas. Do not feed your rabbits foraged plants, grasses or tree branches. Quarantine any new rabbit for 14 days at least.

For owners who also have dogs, keep dogs on a leash outside so they are not in contact with wild rabbits, alive or dead. Wash their paws before going inside and block dog access to areas where your rabbit lives or exercises. Keep cats indoors to prevent the virus from getting inside.

While an annual vaccine exists for continued protection against RHDV2, there is not one widely available in North America. In outbreak areas, such as Orange County, special permission is given by state and federal agencies to veterinarians to import European vaccines.

“My rabbits are on the waitlist at my veterinarian’s office, which could be at least two months for the vaccine to ship from Europe,” Fischer said. “My recommendation is to stay vigilant with protecting your bunnies and contact your veterinarian.”

Lillian Boyd
Lillian Boyd is the senior editor for Picket Fence Media and city editor for Dana Point Times. She graduated with a degree in journalism from Humboldt State University. Her work experience includes interviewing incarcerated individuals in the Los Angeles County jails, an internship at the Pentagon covering U.S. Army news as well as reporting and anchoring for a local news radio station in Virginia. Follow her on Twitter @Lillianmboyd and follow Dana Point Times at @danapointtimes.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Tags: animal careCapistrano BeachFeaturedHouse Rabbit SocietyOrange CountypetsrabbitRabbit Hemorrhagic DiseaseRHDV2San ClementeSan Clemente/Dana Point Animal ShelterVirus
ShareTweetPin
Staff

Staff

Related Posts

Council Declines Emergency Actions to Aid Homeless in Harsh Winter Weather

Council to Consider Hiring Private Security to Address Illegal Activity Related to Homelessness

March 24, 2023
Local Film Festival Organizer Honored for Pursuits in Storytelling

Local Film Festival Organizer Honored for Pursuits in Storytelling

March 23, 2023

Obituary: Anthony “Tony” Cappa

March 24, 2023
Student Mask Requirements Dominate Discussions at Tense CUSD Meeting

UPDATE: Council Approves Contract for New Legal Services Provider

March 23, 2023
Next Post
CoastLines: We’re famous! Our pier is No. 1! Or is it Number Two?

Council Approves Supplemental Funding to Complete Pier Bacteria Study

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

SC Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the SC Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Dana Point Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Terms of Use
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Best of San Clemente
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Triton Football Preview
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media