Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus variants are causing rapid, often catastrophic mortality in wild and domestic rabbit populations, raising serious welfare concerns.
RHDV2 causes rapid multi-organ failure, with death preceded by convulsions and respiratory distress. The speed of death is relatively merciful compared to myxomatosis, but population-level impacts are severe. Unlike myxomatosis, where individual suffering is prolonged, RHDV2's welfare harm is acute but massive in scale. Mass die-offs leave carcasses across affected areas, with downstream welfare effects on predators deprived of their primary prey base.