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VICTORIA – A rare disease that kills rabbits seems to have returned to some parts of Vancouver Island.
The British Columbia Ministry of Forests has issued a warning inviting pet owners to take precautions with their rabbits after tests confirming the death of four wild rabbits in the Parksville area of a highly infectious virus.
The ministry says in a statement that the tests confirm the presence of a rabbit haemorrhagic disease, caused by a calicivirus that affects only rabbits.
The department says it's the second year in a row that the virus has been discovered in rabbits on Vancouver Island, but the source of this virus is unknown.
Hundreds of rabbits died last year after the virus, which caused death in less than 36 hours, killed hundreds of rabbits across much of Vancouver Island and Delta, near Vancouver.
According to the ministry, pet owners should monitor their rabbits daily for signs of illness and contact a veterinarian to report any concerns.
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