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A pet owner is warning people against a new killer strain of fatal disease infecting rabbits in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

Anthony Haskins, 36, from Newmarket, had vaccinated his rabbits from myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease, but not Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (VHD2).

He and his partner Claire owned 10 rabbits, but now have eight after losing two to the disease recently.

"It's been horrible," said Anthony. "They were both continental giant rabbits, so there's a big empty space. We loved them.

(Image: Warren Gunn)

"My rabbit Ginger developed a back injury which wasn't related to VHD2, then he started going downhill.

"He started losing weight and looked lethargic, which we assumed was from the injury.

"The vets did some work on him under anaesthetic, but he didn't recover beyond that."

Shortly after, the pair discovered another of their rabbits, Foxglove, had looked "depressed, lethargic, and went off food."

Foxglove was taken to the vets who discovered that he had VHD2.

The rabbit started having seizures, so was euthanised.

What is VHD?

The virus first broke out in rabbits in China in the early 80s, which is characterised by hemorrhages around the body.

Most baby rabbits can have a natural immunity to VHD and develop a life-long immunity if they are exposed to it.

Unexposed rabbits become increasingly susceptible until six to 10 weeks of age when physiological resistance disappears.

A new strand of the virus, which is called VHD2, can affect all rabbits and requires annual vaccination.

How is it spread?

It's a highly-contagious contact virus and it can latch itself onto humans, food, insects and animals.

It will only infect rabbits.

(Image: Warren Gunn)

What are the signs of VHD?

Symptoms of VHD include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, spasms, and sudden death, although some rabbits may die without showing any symptoms.

Up to 90 per cent of affected rabbits may die from the disease which progresses rapidly (death occurs approximately one to three days after infection).

What are the signs of VHD2?

Rabbits infected with the VHD2 virus typically do not show the symptoms that were common with the original VHD virus.

VHD2 develops after three to nine days instead of a few days.

The rabbits are more likely to survive it but there is ultimately no specific treatment for affected rabbits - the majority of them will die quickly.

'Get them vaccinated'

Anthony and Claire have quarantined their rabbits because it's not clear to them how far the virus has spread.

But the pair, who mostly house rescued rabbits, will vaccinate the eight they house.

"It's annoying, depressing and upsetting," said Anthony.

"Not much is known about it. Had we known about the disease sooner we would have acted.

"We've always had rabbits. They're a great pet, just as good as a dog or a cat.

"I would advise anyone to get them vaccinated, full stop. There's a good number of cases in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

"It's a contact virus, so if you walk through a crop where a rabbit has died from the disease and you brush past it, you can pick up the disease.

"It's a bugger to kill and some of the most commonly used high-end disinfectants won't kill it."

For more information about VHD, visit here.