How to Prevent Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (Rabbit Fever)

1 Preventing Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease

Summer is here, and rabbit keepers must stay alert. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (also called rabbit plague) peaks from late spring to summer, spreads fast, and can devastate a colony. How can you prevent it? Let’s explore.

Prevention measures

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly contagious, high-mortality disease caused by the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. Key preventive steps:

I. Strengthen husbandry. 1. Sanitation: Keep hutches clean, sweep and disinfect regularly, and ensure they stay dry, ventilated, and odor-free. 2. Strict disinfection: Regularly disinfect hutches, cages, and tools to kill viruses. 3. Quarantine new rabbits: Isolate newly introduced breeding rabbits for at least 2 weeks (7–15 days), confirm they are healthy, then mix them with the resident herd.

II. Vaccination. 1. Routine immunization: The RHD vaccine is the main defense. Kits get a first 2 mL dose at 35 days of age and a 1 mL booster at 60 days. Adults are vaccinated three times a year, every 4 months. Use a single-strain vaccine only — never combined (especially triple) vaccines, which raise the risk of triggering RHD. 2. Emergency vaccination: During an outbreak, immediately vaccinate sick and at-risk rabbits.

III. Raise the herd’s overall resistance. 1. Through scientific feeding, balanced rations, and ample clean water. 2. Regular health checks to catch and handle abnormalities early.

IV. Prevent cross-infection. 1. Ban outside visitors: No outsiders in the facility; staff must disinfect on entry and exit so they don’t carry the virus. 2. Ban stock and feed from infected areas: Quarantine and observe imported breeding rabbits for at least 7–15 days, vaccinate them, and confirm health before joining the herd.

V. Emergency response. 1. Isolate sick rabbits: At once isolate any sick or suspected rabbit, lock down the area, and thoroughly disinfect cages and tools. For the at-risk herd, immediately give an enlarged dose of RHD vaccine, disinfect locally, and use a different needle per rabbit to curb spread. 2. Safe disposal: Dead rabbits must not be eaten, discarded, or fed to dogs — burn or deeply bury them. Disinfect contaminated environment, tools, feed, and bedding with 3% sodium hydroxide or 2% formalin. Combining these measures effectively prevents RHD and protects the herd. To cut losses, keepers must enforce strict management.