Deadly myxomatosis hits hares in southern Moravia: experts warn of serious risk
The highly aggressive disease myxomatosis has been confirmed in hares in the Znojmo region of southern Moravia. These are the first confirmed cases in hares in Czechia, though the virus has previously been found in rabbits. Veterinarians warn it poses a serious threat to local hare populations.
Typical symptoms of myxomatosis include swelling of the head, severe inflammation of the limbs or genitals, and reddened brownish eyelids. Infected animals usually die within a few days. Pet rabbits can also be infected through blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, or ticks, or by direct contact.
First identified in hares on the Iberian Peninsula in 2018, the virus has since mutated and spread from rabbits to hares. From the Iberian Peninsula, it reached the Netherlands and Germany, and this summer arrived in Lower Austria, just a few dozen kilometres from South Moravia. Hares showing symptoms of myxomatosis are now dying in Czechia as well.
The disease is highly aggressive and can wipe out entire populations quickly. Humans and other animals are not at risk. It spreads fastest in warm, humid conditions, which favour mosquitoes and other biting insects, making prevention very difficult, says Jiří Janota, chairman of the Czech-Moravian Hunting Union:
“Wild game cannot be vaccinated, nor can they be treated orally. Since the disease is spread by mosquitoes and biting insects, there is no real way to stop it. At most, we can look for ways to protect secondary hare populations across the country.”
Mr. Janota expects deaths to decline with the onset of winter, but warns the disease could return next year. Hunters are now working with the State Veterinary Administration on preventive measures, including reducing hare and rabbit numbers in dense populations where the virus spreads fastest.
State Veterinary spokesman Petr Majer explains the role of hunters in controlling the outbreak:
“Preventive measures can definitely be taken, especially by hunters, in areas where the disease is present and dead hares are found. These carcasses should be disposed of by burying them deeply enough, or sent to a rendering plant for safe disposal.”
If a dead or sick hare is found, the public should contact a hunter, municipal office, or veterinary authority. Symptoms are hard to recognize, so only trained hunters should handle the animals, Mr. Janota stresses.
In the 1960s and 70s, wild rabbits in Europe almost went extinct because of
myxomatosis. Today’s spread could seriously affect the already long-declining hare population in Europe and Czechia, he says:
"It’s a problem, because while there are still local areas with reasonable hare numbers, in most of the country the population is already very low. In fact, it is a huge blow to hare populations overall."
The disease also threatens breeders, whose animals are at risk. Veterinarians recommend preventive vaccination from six weeks of age, with a booster at ten weeks if infection is present in a herd.
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