Resolution of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) Outbreak
in Singapore
Abstract
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a significant viral disease
affecting lagomorphs. The first documented cases of RHD in Singapore
occurred in adult pet European rabbits in September 2020. Singapore
subsequently declared the outbreak resolved in December 2020.
Epidemiological investigations ruled out introductions via importation
of infected rabbits and contaminated feed. The source could not be
definitively determined. However, the findings suggest that the incident
involved both inter- and intra-household transmission and veterinary
clinic-household transmission. This incident demonstrated the importance
of sustained application of biosecurity measures, epidemiological
investigations, and control, including active case finding, expedient
vaccine dissemination, and risk communications. It shows that Singapore,
an urbanised city-state, without a significant lagomorph population,
could still encounter emerging diseases such as rabbit haemorrhagic
disease. Given its social impact on rabbit owners, the National Parks
Board Singapore and the private veterinarians worked together to
communicate and urge the adoption of biosecurity measures and assuage
the concerns of rabbit owners.