Rabbit owners are appealing for more time and more testing before the release of the new strain of calicivirus – RHDV K5.
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Local rabbit owners asked the Advocate to contact Maree Hamming of Tasmania, who last week started a petition on change.org about the virus. It had more than 12,000 signatures by Sunday night.
The petition raises concerns that strains of RHDVa have already broken out in Australia –including RHDV2 for which there is no vaccine.
“I fully understand the problems faced by farmers by feral rabbits but deliberately introducing viruses can be dangerous,” the petition says.
“There are other ways to control feral rabbits including halting fertility etc. We need vaccines to be allowed into Australia or to be developed here that will help save what is left of our domestic rabbits.”
Ms Hamming said there would be an outcry if a virus was being released that would endanger the lives of pet dogs and cats.
“Rabbits are just as important as cats or dogs to the people who own them as pets,” Ms Hamming said.
DPI invasive species manager, Quentin Hart, said RHDV1 K5 is the Korean strain of a naturally-occurring rabbit virus first released here in 1996 to manage the impact of pest rabbits on the Australian environment and agriculture.
“To help prevent domestic rabbits from becoming infected with RHDV1 K5 pet owners should consult their veterinarian and follow vaccination recommendations,” he said.
The Australian Veterinary Association’s website says that, based on scientific evidence to date, the existing RHDV1 vaccine (known as Cylap®) is effective against RHDV1 K5. This evidence is based on a small pilot study undertaken by NSW Department of Primary Industries.
The DPI recommends that rabbit owners also: Prevent direct and indirect contact between domestic and wild rabbits; Avoid cutting grass and feeding it to rabbits if there is the risk of contamination from wild rabbits; Wash hands with warm soapy water between handling rabbits.
Good insect control such as insect-proofing the hutch or keeping rabbits indoors will help reduce the risks of both RHDV and myxomatosis.
There is more information on the virus at www.ava.com.au/rabbit-calicivirus
Maree Hamming’s Facebook group is called Against K 5 Virus and For a Vaccine to Save Rabbits from RHDV2.
