Nibble News
*Important update from the RWAF* RVHD2 Vaccine availability.
(January 13, 2016)Please read this important information below from the The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund. This newly available vaccine protects against both strains of RHD (VHD). However, your rabbits will also need the standard combo vaccine to be protected against Myxo too. Well done to the RWAF for their work in securing this much needed vaccine.
Our patron Frances Harcourt Brown has written the following article to help explain more about the different new RHD (VHD) strain: https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/infectious-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease/rabbit-haemorrhagic-disease-and-its-variants-lagoviruses
"RVHD2 Vaccine availability.
Please ensure your vets are aware of this information
As you may know, over the past year there has been an increasing concern regarding RVHD "new variant 2" becoming a cause of deaths in several outbreaks in the UK. Whilst it has been noted in the UK in research papers (Westcott and Choudhury) for at least 2 years, it has clearly become a significant clinical entity in the past few months.
As a result, the RWAF, with valuable assistance from the APLA, Ann Pocknell (Finn Pathologists), Mark Stidworthy and Daniela Denk (IZVG) and Tariq Abou-Zahr (Great Western Referrals) have been putting together a disease risk assessment.
We (RWAF) have now successfully established an SIC (Special Import Certificate) for a suitable EU member state vaccine, Cunivak RHD, and placed an order for a small number of vaccines to establish an ordering system into the UK.
Vets can order their own supplies from VMD. If they require any further information, they should contact the RWAF at [email protected] and we will pass on any veterinary queries to our vet, Mr Saunders, but they should be aware that he may be dealing with a high volume of email. A more detailed explanation of the above should be available in Vet Times and Vet Record soon.
Huge thanks to our wonderful Vet Richard Saunders BSc (Hons) BVSc MSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) MRCVS
Referral Vet, Zoo and Exotic Species, for all the hard work he has put in to getting this SIC in place and making this vaccine available in the UK."