A virus that has already killed hundreds of feral rabbits on Vancouver Island has spread and the British Columbia government is warning pet owners to take precautions.
The government said tests on dead feral rabbits in Nanaimo and Delta confirmed the presence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease, a calicivirus that includes a fever, convulsions and kills a rabbit within 36 hours.
It said dead rabbits found in the Comox Valley are being sent to a provincial lab for testing.
The government issued its initial warning this month after three rabbits sent to the Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford were determined to have died of the disease, which is exclusive to rabbits and does not affect cats, dogs, horses, other pets or humans.
B.C.’s chief wildlife veterinarian, Helen Schwantje, said the highly infectious and deadly rabbit virus was making its first confirmed appearance in B.C. and third in Canada.
At the time, most of the deaths were recorded near or at the Nanaimo campus of Vancouver Island University.
A government statement Wednesday said the virus only affects European rabbits, and is not known to affect native North American rabbits.
“Pet owners should monitor their rabbits daily for signs of illness and contact their veterinarian immediately with any concerns,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
It said the virus causes hemorrhages by affecting the blood vessels and attacks the liver and other organs.
“Most affected rabbits die suddenly, but can show signs of listlessness, lack of co-ordination, behaviour changes, or trouble breathing before death.”
Schwantje said earlier the cause of the outbreak has not been determined, but it likely came from an infected domestic rabbit released at or near the university campus in Nanaimo.
The government statement said pet owners can protect their rabbits by keeping cages and living areas clean, and keeping the animals away from spots where feral rabbits feed and roam.
The virus spreads easily between rabbits through direct contact with bedding, feed and water as well as feces and body fluids.
The B.C. Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said rabbit owners should talk to their veterinarian about taking precautions to protect their pets.
It said a vaccine is not available in Canada but it might be later this year.
