Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 10th November 2017
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Vets urged to vaccinate rabbits against RHD-2
RHD2 is a devastating disease that is highly fatal to unvaccinated rabbits.

British Rabbit Council shares its concerns

Vets are being urged to make rabbit hemorrhagic disease type 2 vaccine (RHD-2) part of their core rabbit vaccination programme.

In a letter to Vet Record (Vol 181 No 19), Sarah Elliott of the British Rabbit Council and Richard Saunders of the Rabbit Welfare Association share their concerns that some vets are telling owners that vaccination is not required.

They write: ‘We have been concerned to hear that, following breeders recommending that newly acquired pet rabbits are taken to their vet for vaccination, some owners are being told that this is not necessary.

‘A recurring conversation at rabbit shows and on public social media has been that pet rabbit owners know nothing about RHD-2 despite having their rabbits vaccinated yearly against myxomatosis and RHD-1.

‘We would also ask that if a breeder approaches a vet to source and provide vaccine for them that you assist with this. Some breeders have a large number of rabbits and we would ask that you offer a site visit to vaccinate their stock.’

RHD2 is a devastating disease that is highly fatal to rabbits that have not been vaccinated. Since it's discovery in the UK in 2010, the disease has spread throughout much of the country and is now more dominant than RHD-1.

In October 2016, following concerns over a lack of vaccine, the European Medicines Agency issued a marketing authorisation for the vaccine ERAVAC to reduce mortality. This was later followed by Filavic, which received its UK licence in April 2017.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.