The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is to maintain the suspension of the licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club to capture and tag hares for the 2019-’20 hare coursing season. The netting and collecting of hares for coursing meetings poses a significant risk factor to the spreading of the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2). 

While most of the confirmed reports to date have been in rabbits, the disease has also been recorded in Irish hares. The virus is extremely resistant, remaining viable for up to two months in the environment. It can be passed on by direct contact, but also in faeces and urine. Infected carcasses can retain infective virus for several months’ post-mortem. The virus can also be transported on soil, shoes and on clothing as well as by insects. It can be killed, however, using suitable disinfectants (e.g. Virkon).

The public – particularly landowners, farmers, vets and the hare coursing community – is being asked to be on high alert and to report any suspected sightings of diseased rabbits and hares as soon as possible to help efforts to monitor and control the disease.

RHD2 was first reported in the wild in Ireland in early August. Since then, the disease has been recorded in six counties – Cork, Clare, Leitrim, Offaly, Wicklow and, WexfordToday.com understands, in the Curracloe area of Wexford. The Irish hare is native to Ireland and found nowhere else and should this disease prove as infectious and lethal here as it has done elsewhere in Europe, the impact on the hare could be catastrophic. 

In a press statement, the Department says; “RHD2 presents absolutely no threat to human health and it is entirely safe to handle infected or recently dead rabbits or hares provided normal hygiene is followed.”

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is renewing its request to the public to report any suspected cases.  This can be done by contacting the NPWS by Phone (1890 383 000) or Email nature.conservation@chg.gov.ie.