The supervising veterinarians of the City of Helsinki have also received reports of individual dead rabbits in Laajasalo and Kulosaari as well. Samples have been collected from Laajasalo and submitted for analysis, but the results are not yet available.
The City recommends against taking pet rabbits outdoors in areas with wild rabbit populations. It is also not advisable to gather plants for pet rabbits to eat from areas populated by wild rabbits. The RHD virus can survive in the environment for several weeks.
The City recommends vaccinating pet rabbits against the RHD virus, as the virus can also be carried indoors, e.g. on footwear.
Any rabbit carcasses found in yards can be disposed of by putting them in a mixed waste container. You should not touch the carcasses with your bare hands; instead, use protection such as disposable gloves or an inside-out plastic bag in which you can wrap the carcass before putting it in the waste container. Burying rabbit carcasses is not recommended.
For a more thorough examination of the disease, it is best to use a carcass that is as fresh as possible. If you find a rabbit that has just died or is dying, you can report your finding to the City’s supervising veterinarians by calling +358 9 310 31531 (Mon–Fri 9.00–10.00) or sending email to kymp.elainsuojelu@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program).