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Ashton Mutyavaviri
RABBITS farmers have called on Government to impose a ban on rabbit imports from South Africa with immediate effect to prevent the spread of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), which is currently wreaking havoc in that country.
Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (ZICORBA) president Mr Regis Nyamakanga said the Government should urgently move and ban imports of live rabbits from South Africa to contain the possible spreading of the diseases, which has since decimated significant populations of both domestic and wild rabbits in South Africa.
Mr Nyamakanga yesterday told The Herald that Zimbabwean veterinary authorities were currently working with their South African counterparts to devise effective containment strategies for the disease in an effort to salvage the rabbit industries of both countries.
However, efforts to get a comment from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) on the issue were fruitless with DVS Chief Director Dr Josphat Nyika saying he was not aware of the outbreak and would only comment after verifying the facts.
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease, known for its fatality in rabbits, is caused by various virus strains. One of these strains, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2 (RHDV2), was identified by animal health officials in North America in recent years but the disease has been largely confined to regions in the Americas, Europe and certain parts of Asia.
The RHDV is highly resilient and can survive on surfaces such as tables, carriers, shoes, floors, and clothes for up to 105 days at room temperature. It can be transferred via hay, insects, and other animals, although these animals do not get infected. It affects only lagomorph species, which include rabbits and hares. It does not infect humans, dogs, cats and many others. However, all these can act as carriers, transmitting the virus via surfaces.
In South Africa, the disease was first reported in the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape provinces. The disease has spread to Gauteng province and is reported to be wiping large populations of domestic and wild rabbits.
Said Mr Nyamakanga: “People who may have had contact with infected animals should not be allowed on properties with healthy animals and if contact is necessary, they should change clothes, thoroughly wash their hands and arms and disinfect footwear.”
Mr Nyamakanga said ZICORBA was collaborating with some animal vets to import vaccines, as part of a comprehensive strategy to shield the local rabbit industry from the lethal virus.
He went on to say ZICORBA had plans to initiate an awareness campaign aimed at curtailing the spread of RHDV to Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter