HARRISBURG, PA - Following guidance within its Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) Management Plan, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has dissolved the RHD Disease Management Area (DMA) established last year in Fayette County.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease can be caused by several viral strains but RHDV2 is responsible for the recent RHD outbreak in the United States. RHDV2 is a highly contagious, and often-fatal virus that can infect both wild and domestic rabbits, hares and other lagomorphs. The virus, which is a serious threat to Pennsylvania’s wild rabbits and hares, also can persist in the environment and be carried great distances through contaminated equipment, tools, or other items.
The RHD DMA was created last fall after RHDV2 was detected at a domestic rabbit facility. The agency’s RHD Management Plan recommends that any RHD DMA be dissolved following 12 consecutive months of no further RHDV2 detections.
While the RHD DMA has been dissolved, the public is reminded there’s still a ban on importing into Pennsylvania any wild lagomorph, or any of their parts or products, including meat, pelts, hides and carcasses, from any state, province, territory, or country where RHDV2 has been detected in wild or captive lagomorph populations in the 12 months prior to the importation or where the virus has been declared endemic in domestic or wild lagomorph populations. This ban will remain in effect until further notice.
Hunters are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate agriculture and wildlife authorities in non-endemic areas when hunting rabbits or hares outside of Pennsylvania to determine if the ban applies. Since its first detection in the United States in early 2020, RHDV2 has become endemic in wild lagomorph populations in 11 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Wyoming).
RHD is exclusive to lagomorphs and does not pose a public health concern. For more information about the disease, including recommendations on how you can help the Game Commission, please visit Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (pa.gov). The agency strongly encourages anyone who observes two or more dead hares or rabbits at the same location and time without an obvious cause of death to report those findings via the Wildlife Health Survey or by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453).
MEDIA CONTACT: Travis Lau - 717-705-6541
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