Vaccine for deadly rabbit illness arrives

The first batch of vaccine for a deadly rabbit virus — which forced the euthanization of 66 rabbits at a shelter in Richmond — has arrived in B.C.

The vaccines for rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) are being distributed to 50 veterinary clinics that submitted orders. A second batch of the vaccine is expected in early May, following heightened demand.

An order for the vaccine was first placed by the B.C. government in March following the first reported cases on Vancouver Island. The leading vaccine is produced by a manufacturer in France and must be imported by the province with emergency permits granted by the federal government.

The first shipment, which arrived this month, included all product the manufacturer had available, according to a news release.

“This included 1,090 individual doses of the vaccine and 42 multi-dose vials that are being distributed to vet clinics that ordered it following cases of the disease in their area,” said a news release issued Monday.

“It is also being distributed to clinics in other parts of B.C. that have clients who are concerned about protecting their rabbits from the quickly spreading disease.”

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is extremely infectious among rabbits and causes internal bleeding and organ damage. Infected rabbits can show some symptoms but often die suddenly following a fast deterioration in their health. .

The virus was first identified in 1984 in the Jiangsu province of China in a group of commercially bred Angora rabbits imported from Germany. In nine months, an estimated 14 million domestic rabbits died in the initial outbreak.

Last month, 50 rabbits on Annacis Island were reported dead due to the virus. Another outbreak in Nanaimo was reported in February.