Fears of Deadly Rabbit Virus Outbreak in Britain Amid European Epidemic

In Britain, there are growing worries that a lethal strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), which has already taken a significant toll on rabbit populations in Europe, is making its way to the countryside. Last year, this disease was first identified in countries like France and the Netherlands, but reports of sudden rabbit deaths in regions such as Suffolk have sparked concern among campaigners, particularly the British Rabbit Council. Though no confirmed cases have been reported, Hazel Elliott, the council's chair of animal health, welfare, and legislation, mentioned that she knows of a breeder who experienced a massive loss of rabbits, attributing it to this new strain. The rapidity with which the virus operates is alarming; it can kill rabbits within hours by attacking vital internal organs, a situation that Elliott described as witnessing rabbits go from alive to dead almost instantaneously.

Specifically, Suffolk has faced severe impacts from these mysterious rabbit deaths, leading to the Wild Meat Company running out of supply in February. Matt Larsen-Daw, the CEO of the Mammal Society, suggested that he has observed signs of the new strain even near his residence in the Scottish Highlands. According to him, while there was hope in 2020 that the threat from RHD was diminishing, this latest strain has triggered a fresh wave of mortality among rabbits. He noted that there were previously rabbits in the highlands, but now they have seemingly vanished in a short period, with minimal indications pointing to other causes for their disappearance. Larsen-Daw expressed hope for the remaining native rabbit and hare populations to endure through this crisis.

The origins of RHD trace back to China in the 1980s and have posed significant challenges for Britain since its emergence in the 1990s, marked by sudden rabbit fatalities. Symptoms of the disease can include fever, lethargy, and respiratory difficulties, leading to quick deaths. The past decade has seen the rise of new RHD strains which pose the greatest threat yet to the rabbit population, reminiscent of the myxomatosis outbreak that wiped out 99% of rabbits in the 1950s. Despite the dire situation, Elliott remains optimistic about the potential for the remaining rabbits to recover swiftly. RHD also presents risks to hares and to predators that rely on rabbits, like foxes and birds of prey. Larsen-Daw emphasized that wild rabbits cannot be safeguarded from the virus; their only hope lies in a natural buildup of resistance over time.