Last Friday, a hospital in Taiwan reported a case involving a six-year-old boy who contracted a fungal infection and scalp ringworm after handling his pet rabbit. The boy frequently hugged and kissed the rabbit, which led to the infection. The news quickly caused panic among many parents, resulting in a flood of calls to animal protection organizations, with many parents wanting to give up their rabbits.
The boy, referred to as Chen Xiaodi, developed pus-filled sores on his scalp and experienced hair loss. It was only after a hospital examination that doctors discovered he had scalp ringworm combined with scalp pyoderma caused by the fungal infection. This alarming report made many parents anxious enough to consider abandoning their rabbits. However, veterinarians assured the public that the situation is not as frightening as it seems. Although the fungus that rabbits can transmit is zoonotic, meaning it can spread between animals and humans, the risk to humans can be greatly reduced if the pet owner is vigilant and takes the rabbit for regular medical check-ups.
Despite veterinarians' reassurances, the Rabbit Lovers Association reported receiving 20 to 30 calls following the news, mostly from parents wanting to give up their rabbits. The association emphasized that rabbits are very clean animals, and cases of fungal infections spreading from rabbits to humans are mostly due to owners lacking basic care knowledge. Maintaining a dry cage and preventing rabbits from stepping directly on their waste are key to keeping them healthy and avoiding such infections. These steps are simple and effective.
The Rabbit Lovers Association also noted that incidents of children getting sick from touching rabbits without washing their hands reflect poor hygiene habits and inadequate pet care. Abandoning rabbits out of fear is irresponsible and only creates new problems related to stray rabbits.
