Why has USDA/APHIS gone with the Rabbit Calicivirus Disease designation?
The disease is properly called Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (or Viral Haemorrhagic Disease of Rabbits). In a telephone conversation with the Emergency Program officials in Iowa, Monday April 10th 2000, the officer in charge stated that the “higher-ups” had decided on using the RCD name. Where have we heard that incorrect term before? In Australia, where this euphemism has been employed to soften the public perception of RHD, by changing it to more pleasant-sounding name, the name of a less severe disease. Rabbit Calicivirus, Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease and European Brown Hare Syndrome are all similar viruses, but only one, RHD is pathogenic. An Australian, Dr. Keith Murray, was brought to Iowa in 1998. Dr. Murray, who was Deputy Chief with CSIRO Animal Health in Australia, took on the position of Director of the National Animal Disease Centre (NADC) in Ames, Iowa. The NADC carries out research in the detection, characterization and prevention of animal diseases of importance to US lives
