We should all be aware of the current situation around the recent occurrences and transmission of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) around San Diego County.
The RDHV2 virus is a fatal virus that affects rabbits and doesn't show very readily when a dead rabbit has died from infection.
At this point it has been detected in counties north of us in past months and most recently has made its way down as south as the Rancho Jamul Ecological reserve confirmed by samples submitted by state personnel.
While we can't stop this virus in its tracks given the broad scope of the public that hits the public trails every day, we can help arrest movement of this virus whenever we get on trails and go to novel areas that the public doesn't in execution of our activities.
The virus is known to be easily transmissible by encountering expired carcasses affected by this disease where the disease can transmit on the soles of your shoes and potentially picking it up from the environment if shed from a nearby infected specimen.
I would like to ask that everyone joining Saturday for the NABA butterfly survey work with their group leader to prepare a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) in a spray bottle to use on their shoes, pants (below their knees), and in the wheel well of their vehicles to inactivate the virus to prevent transmission to new areas as they move around and survey new places.
A likely scenario for how this could play out is
You mix up your 10% bleach solution
before heading out to your field site you spray down your boots and lower part of your pants along with your wheel well
Once you get to your field site you start your excursion
After finishing your NABA sampling before getting into your vehicle you spray your boots down once again and pants along with your wheel well
Repeat steps 3 & 4 if visiting another field site
At the end of the day before heading home, spray down one last time in all the locations previously mentioned to prevent transmission back to rabbit inhabiting areas near where you live.
If you have any questions about this feel free to reach out to me for further clarification. Here is a quick link that has additional information about the disease and its transmission/threat. According to information widely available, the virus is not known to be transmissible to humans. If on your journey you come across a dead rabbit take excessive precaution to stay away and quarantine your clothes until they can be effectively cleaned to prevent transmission.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV2) | Department of Agriculture (colorado.gov)
Thanks and have fun out there!
Dwane Binns Jr
Refuge Manager
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
San Diego NWR | National Wildlife Refuges | Legacy Region 8
