Cases of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) have been confirmed in dead feral rabbits found in two different locations in Canmore, Alberta. The samples were submitted on November 30, 2022 and December 8, 2022, with both confirmed to be rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus-2 (RHDV-2). This virus is extremely contagious to domestic and wild rabbits and hares, and may have a significant mortality rate. There is currently no epidemiological linkage between the cases in Canmore and the previous case in September 2022 in the Calgary area.

Previous detections of RHDV-2 in Alberta include:

•  May 2021, captive domestic rabbits in a single household near Taber
•  October 2021, feral domestic rabbits in northwest Edmonton
•  May 2022, a captive domestic rabbit in the Calgary area
• September 2022, feral domestic rabbits in the Calgary area

Additional information:

Government of Alberta Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) page 

Government of Alberta RHD factsheet

CFIA Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) fact sheet

USDA General Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) Contaminated Premises

USDA Factsheet on RHD