Unusual rabbits with tentacle-like facial growths infected by cottontail rabbit papilloma virus (CRPV), also called Shope papilloma virus, have been reported in several US states. The virus can spread between rabbits via mosquito and tick bites. Direct infection of humans by CRPV is unlikely, but vectors that have fed on infected rabbits can transmit other human diseases. Examples include tick-borne Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile, Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya. Avoiding contact with infected rabbits and protecting pet rabbits from insects are recommended precautions, and warming temperatures may increase spread and prevalence.
While humans are unlikely to contract CRPV, Dr Omer Awan of the University of Maryland School of Medicine cautioned that people could still face risks from other diseases carried by ticks or mosquitoes that have fed on infected rabbits. 'You're not going to get CRPV, and you likely won't show symptoms of it,' Dr Awan told the Daily Mail. 'However, you could still be indirectly exposed through ticks or mosquitoes that have fed on infected animals, which means you might contract a different disease.'
Dr Awan advised the best course of action is to avoid contact with infected rabbits and ensure any pet rabbits are protected from insects. Dr Awan also warned Americans should prepare for the possibility of seeing even more cases of this grotesque condition spreading beyond the Midwest in the coming years. 'Because temperatures are becoming warmer, we're gonna start to see it become more prevalent as the years go on, and also to spread in areas where it hasn't been before,' Dr Awan said.
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