Deadly infectious disease causes concern for rabbit owners Kirsten Rintelmann, Capital News Service March 6, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail The rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, or RHDV2, is highly contagious and almost always fatal. Although humans cannot contract the virus, it can still be spread through human-to-rabbit contact. (Courtesy photo/flickr.com) LANSING – Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan rabbit owners are concerned as yet another infectious disease continues to spread across the United States. The rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, or RHDV2, is highly contagious and almost always fatal. Although humans cannot contract the virus, it can still be spread through human-to-rabbit contact. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, it affects both domestic and wild rabbits.