"OUTBREAK" and Rabbits

Remember the movie ‘Outbreak’? It was based on a true story of a deadly virus that was brought to the United States by an illegally kept pet monkey. The disease threatened to kill a tremendous number of people. Severe intestinal bleeding, liver disease and death characterized the malady. The agent responsible for the outbreak was the Ebola virus.

Last December, rabbits in New York Queens Zoo unexpectedly started to die with signs that were similar to those seen with Ebola. This virus was not responsible for the rabbits demise but a Calici virus instead. This condition affects only domestic rabbits and not their wild counterparts. It is a major concern for breeders as well as the owner of pet rabbits.

Some diseases in pets and people are found more commonly in certain parts of the world. Rabbit Calici disease is not uncommon is locales such as China, Italy, Mexico, and France. It had not been seen in the U.S. prior to the outbreak in New York. How it got in to the United States is not fully understood at this time.

Some diseases in pets and people are found more commonly in certain parts of the world.

Next time you travel overseas and want to sneak back some pet or animal products, don’t! You may inadvertently start the next outbreak in people or pets.