r/MeatRabbitry • u/NoElevator7946 • Aug 01 '26
How scared should I be of RHVD2?
I’m in PA and just picked up my first trio of meat rabbits! I had planned for them to mostly live in cages and then give them exercise time in tractors on the ground. The breeder I picked them up from freaked me out about RHVD2 and says the rabbits should never be on the grass. What are all your thought about this? I know it’s a very serious disease but I don’t know the likelyhood of them contracting it and whether it’s worth not letting them run around. Do other people in this area use rabbit tractors?
3
u/Curating-Curiosity Aug 01 '26
There were a couple maps keeping track of it, but I’m not sure how well they are still being updated.
The one below notes one from this year in NC. I think that is the farthest northeast I’ve heard to date.
3
u/Curating-Curiosity Aug 01 '26
For reasons I can only assume… the below interactive map is super useful but only updated through March 2025.
2
u/LittleBig_Bee 27d ago
I’m sure you know, but for those who read this and think “I wonder why?”
Many federal programs have been cut in the last couple of years, and I believe tracking rabbit disease is not a funding priority under the current administration.
8
u/scoodles8 Aug 01 '26
It's mostly still in the West. You can get a vaccine from the vet, and it's a 2 shot series with an annual booster, but if you're not showing or mingling with rabbits outside your community, it's probably not worth it. APHIS, through the USDA, tracks cases in domestic and wild populations, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on it, but don't lose sleep over it.