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What Florida FFA and 4-H Rabbit Exhibitors Need to Know -
Rabbit Disease RHDV-2
(Includes Interview of Florida Department of Ag and Consumer Services)
By Stephanie Collins – Ag News Today LLC

In July of 2020, the USDA listed 4-H and National FFA Organization among other groups who would feel impacts from RHDV-2. (1) But, when the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) plus Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) in January 2021 reacted to just one case in Florida with a special bulletin alert asking Floridians to be watchful for specific illness symptoms in domestic and wild rabbits, Floridians started to take extra notice. The urgent reaction to that one case in Lake County did not stop there. Event coordinators in the area postponed or canceled rabbit shows such as the Pasco County Fair which is not an ARBA show. They still decided to follow the American Rabbit Breeders Assn Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Policy that states “Based on ongoing outbreaks within the USA the ARBA has the following recommendations. This policy will be constantly monitored and can be modified as needed per USDA guidelines and recommendations. • Any ARBA sanction held by a club within 250 miles of an active RHD outbreak will be cancelled, and the club provided the opportunity to reschedule the date / location for a future ARBA sanctioned show. Clubs forced to reschedule shows due to enforcement of the ARBA RHD policy will be provided every opportunity to reschedule their sanctioned show without adhering to the 30-days deadline...” (2) Other Fairs such as the Polk County Youth Fair and Florida Strawberry Festival canceled their rabbit shows for this year out of caution too.

As a youth rabbit exhibitor, you do not need to panic. You do need to become informed and know the suggested protocols Florida Dept of Ag and Consumer Services has given for showing rabbits and other details.

In a nutshell, the concern is that this virus which is spreading worldwide has an impact on not only the domestic rabbit industry but also wild rabbit populations. RHDV2 in wild rabbits affects the ecosystem by disrupting the food chain. According to North Carolina Wildlife ( a department of the State of North Carolina) - RHDV2 has a documented fatality rate of 90% in infected individuals and is extremely contagious; those rabbits that survive the virus can go on to shed it for an additional 2 months or more. Additionally, studies have shown RHDV2 can reduce rabbit populations between 5% and 70%, and current surveillance in the Southwestern part of the United States estimates about a 50% decrease in rabbit populations. (3). This is why both the Florida Dept. of Ag and Consumer Services (FDACS) plus Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) are keeping close tabs and publishing bulletins.

Again, Florida youth rabbit exhibitors need to be informed and know the suggestions by FDACS and USDA for showing.

As FDACS said in my below interview “Florida’s state and county fairs are an important part of our state’s agricultural heritage, and we encourage all potential fair participants, as well as fairs and shows themselves, to review our printed general biosecurity guidelines.” Link to guidelines (4)

According to the USDA in July 2020:
The U.S. rabbit industry is estimated to be worth between $2.2 billion and $2.3 billion, of which 80 to 90 percent are represented by the value of pet supplies and care of over 6.7 million pet rabbits (primarily domestic European rabbits) in approximately 2.9 million households. Current impacts would be felt in the pet rabbit industry; 4-H, National FFA Organization , and other hobby groups; exhibitions; laboratories; and the meat, pelt, and hunting sectors. - USDA Emerging Risk Notice (5)

The very first detections of RHDV2 occurred in France in 2010 and since has spread around the world… the first occurrence of RHDV2 in North America was in Québec, Canada, in August 2016… In September 2018, RHDV2 was detected in a pet rabbit in Medina County, Ohio.5 The strain was closely related to the 2018 RHDV2 strain in Canada. – Excerpts from USDA Emerging Risk Notice (6)

The virus is transmitted through shared food and water sources, blood, urine, feces, saliva, fur, meat, rabbit carcasses, and can be carried on other animals’ fur, human clothing, and shoes. The virus can also be passed to other rabbits by biting insects, contact with the feces of carrion eating birds and mammals, and contact with dogs and humans who have recently contacted ill rabbits. - North Carolina Wildlife (a State of North Carolina Department) (7)

Below is the latest USDA interactive map showing not only States, but also Counties with confirmed cases. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/animal-health/rhd

Florida FFA and 4-H rabbit exhibitors- how does this impact their Florida show season?
After FDACS posted a bulletin about a confirmed premise in Lake County in January 2021 , several reached out to me requesting I do a story. As part of my research on January 21st, I reached out to FDACS for more information with a focus on how this virus could impact Florida FFA and 4-H exhibitors. While they answered promptly (thank you!), I was hindered due to COVID from immediately writing this story. Here are my questions and responses from Erica Field, Assistant Director of Florida Dept of Ag and Consumer Services Division of Animal Industry in green.

When asked about the case in Lake County and if there are any others, here is the response.

FDACS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are investigating any reported rabbit mortalities in Florida. Testing is performed on all reported, suspect cases in an abundance of caution. At this time, RHDV has not been detected at any location other than the Lake county facility. Additional positive cases will be posted to Announcements on our website, https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Animal-Industry.
Is there a test available to the public via their local veterinarian to test if their rabbits are healthy or not? Is the test done directly thru the State? What is the cost and average time it takes to get results? Because this is a foreign animal disease, testing is coordinated through the State Veterinarian’s Office and testing is performed at the USDA, Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. If a case warrants submittal, it is free of charge and results are typically received within a week. The testing requires liver tissue and can only be performed on deceased animals.
I know before FFA and 4-H youth or even adults can show livestock at the Florida State Fair and other shows/events they are required to get a health certificate. Some species like poultry require a blood test. Does the State of Florida require or are they considering requiring a health certificate from a vet showing a negative RHDV result before they can show in Florida? Yes, Florida requires health certificates for all animals entering fairs/exhibitions. Exhibition requirements are listed our rule 5C-4 . (8) There is no live animal test for this disease.
Do you foresee a health certificate with a stop at the Florida Ag Station required before rabbits can cross the State line in either direction? States of destination determine requirements for rabbits leaving Florida. All rabbits imported into Florida from a non-RHDV affected state are required to have an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) dated within 30 days of entry. Rabbits imported into Florida from a RHDV affected state should have an OCVI within 72 hours of entry as stated in our Emergency Rule for Importation of Rabbits (9) Currently all vehicles transporting livestock (including rabbits) are required to stop at the Agricultural Interdiction Stations, but many do not.
Will there be inspectors at the Florida State Fair, County Fairs and other rabbit shows looking for the virus? We have inspectors at fairs and shows looking for all types of animal illnesses. While they cannot specifically look for the virus since that would require testing, they can look for rabbits that which appear ill for any reason.
With the upcoming Florida State Fair and variety of County Fairs occurring this time of year, does FDACS have any protocols, if a rabbit dies at a show or shows symptoms? FDACS would investigate any rabbits dying at a fair as we do with mortality at other locations. Every investigation is individually based on multiple factors, so it is impossible to speculate on specific response activities.

If the tested rabbit comes back positive would all the rabbits in the show barn be put down or would the quarantine be lengthened? There would need to be additional information gathered before making decisions. Hopefully, the fair followed biosecurity guidelines (10) so that other rabbits would not have had exposure to the rabbit that died.
Where is the test done? I read there is only one USDA approved lab for testing which is at the USDA Animal Disease Center in New York. Because RHD is a foreign animal disease, testing is done or confirmed at the USDA’s Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in New York.
While there is a vaccine, from what I understand it is not approved for US use unless special permission is given. Why is that the case? The vaccine is unlicensed in the United States since no manufacturer has completed the approval process. This causes multiple complications and additional considerations. There is a limited supply. We continue to work with the USDA to determine if vaccine approval and use in Florida is warranted.
Is it true if a rabbit is vaccinated, they will test positive for life? If rabbits are vaccinated, they must receive a form of official identification that can be traced to show history of vaccination.
From the latest FDACS update some are wondering if their rabbits can get the virus from the hay they purchase - is that true? Although we still have not concluded our investigation, we know that in general, virus transmission through fomites is possible. We do not know that is what happened in this case at this time, but in an abundance of caution, it would be prudent to purchase hay from non-affected states.
Any special sterilization of cages or anything you recommend before and after they show? If a special named product is useful please give that too. They can be saturated by submersion or spray with 10% household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or 1% Virkon®S (DuPont). Allow 10 minutes contact, then rinse and let dry before allowing animal contact. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/rhdv-cleaning-guidance.pdf
If a youth or adult suspects their rabbit whether at home or at a show has the virus - what should they do? Illness or unexplained death in domestic rabbits should be reported to the FDACS, Division of Animal Industry at RAD@FDACS.gov or calling (850) 410-0900. Illness or death in wild rabbits should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Health Hotline: (866) 293-9282.
Lastly, is there a message you would like to share to Florida's 4-H and FFA youth exhibitors plus adults and others pondering whether or not they should show at shows or events? Florida’s state and county fairs are an important part of our state’s agricultural heritage, and we encourage all potential fair participants, as well as fairs and shows themselves, to review our printed general biosecurity guidelines. (11)

Excerpt from FDACS publication Rabbit Clubs, Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows (12):
o Wash hands frequently, especially before and after handling individual animals and between groups.
o Wear different clothes and shoes at shows than at home.
o After returning from an exhibition, change clothing and footwear and wash hands before contacting main colony.
o Wash show clothing and clean and disinfect footwear immediately after returning home.
o Do not share equipment, grooming tools, feeding implements, etc.
o Do not handle anyone else’s rabbits.
o Use separate footwear for outside and inside the rabbitry or use a disinfectant footbath to avoid tracking contamination on your shoes (12)

If a suspected case of RHDV-2 is found at a show barn, a quarantine might be enacted while the suspected case is autopsied. If results come back negative, the rabbits go home. If the suspected case tests positive some tough decisions may have to be made. One source I interviewed, relayed a situation that occurred at a rabbit show in another State causing a temporary quarantine while awaiting test results. The good news is it ended happily as the suspected case tested negative and the show rabbits got to go home.

But in New Mexico, where RHDV-2 has been found this occurred:
According to New Mexico State Veterinarian Dr. Ralph Zimmerman domestic rabbits found to be affected in that state were mostly kept for 4-H, showing and meat for personal use. Each group contained between five to 30 rabbits, he said. The state required any surviving rabbits be euthanized, and affected premises disinfected and left unused for 90 days, he said. Veterinary Information Network (13)

Symptoms according to North Carolina Wildlife ( (a State of North Carolina Department)
Signs of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus serotype 2
• Bleeding from nose, mouth, or rectum
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• High fever
• Seizures
• Jaundice
• Difficulty breathing
• Sudden death (14)

We cannot live life in a glass bubble. But control of this virus at shows has a lot to do with what you as an exhibitor do. If your rabbit looks ill before a show, be responsible, do not take it to a show. It may not have RHDV-2 but think of others. In honesty, you should not take a sick rabbit to a show anyhow. If you see a sick or dead rabbit at the show, alert the show superintendents. It may not be RHDV-2 as there could be many other reasons the rabbit is ill or died. Do not panic, but report cases to a responsible adult in charge of the event so they can investigate. Remember to follow FDACS sterilization procedures before and after showing as well as their other tips. I encourage all Florida FFA and 4-H exhibitors to read : Rabbit Clubs, Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows by FDACS (15)

I end this story with an excerpt from latest FDACS update:
3/1/2021: No additional cases of RHDV-2 have been identified; however, rabbit owners should continue to take prudent biosecurity measures, including not purchasing hay or other commodities originating in RHDV-2 affected states. Montana has been added to the list of affected states… https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/91807/file/rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease-update-2152021.pdf

Sources
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO: Erica Field, Assistant Director of Florida Dept of Ag and Consumer Services Division of Animal Industry for the interview
1. USDA Emerging Risk Notice July 2020 Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Type 2 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/rhdv2.pdf page 2 last paragraph
2. ARBA Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Policy June 15, 2020 https://arba.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ARBA-Rabbit-Hemorrhagic-Disease-Policy.6.15.20-1.pdf
3. RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUS SEROTYPE 2 – North Carolina Wildlife (a State of North Carolina Department) https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Species/Rabbit-Hemorrhagic-Disease-2_10_8_2020.pdf
4. Rabbit Clubs, Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows - FDACS

https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/95854/file/Biosecurity-Recommendations-for-Rabbit-Clubs-Exhibitions-Fairs-and-Shows.pdf5.
5. USDA Emerging Risk Notice July 2020 Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Type 2 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/rhdv2.pdf - USDA Page 2 last paragraph

6. USDA Emerging Risk Notice July 2020 Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Type 2 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/rhdv2.pdf -USDA page 2 excerpts
7. RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUS SEROTYPE 2 – North Carolina Wildlife (a State of North Carolina Department) https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Species/Rabbit-Hemorrhagic-Disease-2_10_8_2020.pdf
8. Admission of Animals for Exhibition – Florida Administrative Code and Florida Administrative Register https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=5C-4
9. Emergency Rule for Importation of Rabbits – Florida Administrative Code and Florida Administrative Register https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=23794699
10. Rabbit Clubs, Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows - FDACS
https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/95854/file/Biosecurity-Recommendations-for-Rabbit-Clubs-Exhibitions-Fairs-and-Shows.pdf
11. Rabbit Clubs, Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows - FDACS https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/95854/file/Biosecurity-Recommendations-for-Rabbit-Clubs-Exhibitions-Fairs-and-Shows.pdf
12. Rabbit Clubs, Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows - FDACS https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/95854/file/Biosecurity-Recommendations-for-Rabbit-Clubs-Exhibitions-Fairs-and-Shows.pdf
13. Southwest US faces lethal rabbit disease outbreak - Veterinary Information Network https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=9597414
14. RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUS SEROTYPE 2 – North Carolina Wildlife (a State of North Carolina Department) https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Species/Rabbit-Hemorrhagic-Disease-2_10_8_2020.pdf
15. Rabbit Clubs, Fairs, Exhibitions and Shows -FDACS https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/95854/file/Biosecurity-Recommendations-for-Rabbit-Clubs-Exhibitions-Fairs-and-Shows.pdf

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What Florida FFA and 4-H Rabbit Exhibitors Need to Know -Rabbit Disease RHDV-2(Includes Interview of Florida Department of Ag and Consumer Services)By Stephanie Collins – Ag News Today LLC

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What Florida FFA and 4-H Rabbit Exhibitors Need to Know -
Rabbit Disease RHDV-2
(Includes Interview of Florida Department of Ag and Consumer Services)
By Stephanie Collins – Ag News Today LLC

SAVE OUR FARMERS T SHIRTS AND BUMPER STICKERS AVAILABLE
email agnewstoday@outlook.com for details