RABBITS are at risk from a deadly virus which could kill them in just one day.

An outbreak of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease type 2 (RVHD2) is currently sweeping the UK and Ireland.

The organisers of Rabbit Awareness Week, the UK’s largest welfare campaign for rabbits, are urging rabbit owners to get their rabbits vaccinated against the deadly rabbit disease following a significant drop in vaccinations due to Covid-19.

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Vets have warned not enough rabbits in the UK have been properly vaccinated, and are urging owners to take action.

According to the latest PDSA PAW Report, there are 900,000 pet rabbits in the UK.

The latest sales figures for RVHD2 vaccines suggest that less than 20 per cent of these rabbits are protected against the deadly disease.

There are usually no symptoms, and when rabbits finally show signs of the disease it is often too late and rabbits due through internal bleeding.

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Outbreaks of RVHD2 have been reported in all UK and Ireland regions, and the highly infectious nature of the disease means no area is safe.

Dr Richard Saunders, veterinary advisor at the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund said: “It’s a difficult time for vets, owners and rabbits, right now, with Covid-19 adding some key challenges in terms of minimising physical contact between clients and vet practices.

"However, it’s still incredibly important that pets are vaccinated to protect against deadly diseases that might otherwise kill them.

"There's no robust evidence to suggest that rabbit vaccines remain effective after 12 months so we therefore strongly urge owners and vets to make sure that rabbit vaccine boosters are given as close to every 12 months as possible, and that unvaccinated rabbits, whether young or old, start their vaccine courses as soon as possible.

Rabbit owners that experience the sudden death of a rabbit are strongly advised to take them to a vet to help identify the cause of death and to help experts to understand the geographical spread of the RVHD2 outbreak.