As of April 2022, RHDV2 has been found in the states highlighted on the maps below. On July 15, 2022, The Kansas Department of Animal Health reported that RHDV2 was confirmed in a domestic rabbit in Leavenworth county, Kansas.
For more information about RHDVD2 in Kansas, please visit:
https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/division-of-animal-health
VACCINATION
We recommend that all pet rabbits be vaccinated against RHDV2, which has a 70% to 100% mortality rate in pet rabbits.
The Medgene RHDV2 vaccine has been given Emergency Use Authorization by the USDA. This means that Medgene has demonstrated preliminary vaccine efficacy (100%) and safety, and additional studies are currently underway as the company works towards a full product license. So far, the vaccine data has suggested that this vaccine is very safe and very effective. The reason we are recommending this vaccine now is because RHDV2 is a highly transmissible and highly fatal (up to 90% fatality rate) virus that is quickly spreading across the United States.
Rare side effects include temporary swelling at the site of injection, slight fever, and lethargy for 1-2 days after the injections. If you notice any of these or other problems in the next few days, please let us know.
After the initial 2-dose series (administered 21 days apart), your rabbit will need annual boosters of this vaccine.
For more information, visit:
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fs-rhdv2.pdf
- https://rabbit.org/faq-for-medgenes-rhdv2-vaccine