Hare from Essex and Dorset found with rabbit virus

Scientists say that brown hares have been found in the UK in a disease that usually affects only rabbits.

The first cases of Type 2 rabies haemorrhagic disease (RHDV2) were found in dead hares in Esbad and Dorset.

A team of researchers led by Dr. Diana Bell of the University of East Anglia identified the virus after receiving several reports of hares sick and dead last year.

Dr. Bell confirmed, "This is the first time that RHDV2 is found in British hares."

The University has partnered with Suffolk, Norfolk and Esbad Wildlife Trusts, DEFRA and the APHA Surveillance Intelligence Unit, after farmers, landowners and members of the public voiced their concerns. concerning sick hares in East of England last October.

Dr. Bell stated that it was "a good example of citizen science" and that she was "extremely grateful" to the people reporting the ongoing deaths.

She added, "RHDV2 is one of many pathogens we detect in dead hares, but it is too early to say what is currently the main cause of hare mortality.

"We continue to collect corpses to search for other pathogens that may contribute to the decline.

"Expanding the dataset will allow us to map the reported deaths over time."

Dr. Bell confirmed that the virus "normally affects rabbits", but said the disease "would have infected brown hares in Europe, Italy, Spain, France and Australia".

The results have been confirmed by research that will be published in Vet Record on Friday.

At the national level, brown hares have declined by more than 80% over the past century due to changes in farming practices.