Calicivirus strain spreads across South Australia killing rabbits

A new strain of calicivirus spreading throughout the rabbit population in South Australia has prompted a warning for pet owners to get their animals vaccinated.

The haemorrhagic strain known as RHDV2 was discovered in France in 2010 and detected in Murray Bridge late last year, Biosecurity SA said.

It has now spread to parts of the south-east of the state and has also been detected in dead rabbits as far north as Balaklava and Koolunga in the state's Mid North.

Rabbits have since developed a resistance to the original calicivirus.

Read more...http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-18/rabbit-owners-warned-as-new-calicivirus-detected-in-sa/7522594

Rabbits in Australia
Wild rabbits are a serious mammalian pest and invasive species in Australia causing millions of dollars of damage to crops.

Rabbits in Australia are European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Lagomorph family.

They were introduced to Australia in the 18th century with the First Fleet and became widespread after an outbreak caused by an 1859 release.

Various methods in the 20th century have been attempted to control the population.

Conventional methods include shooting rabbits and destroying their warrens, but these had only limited success.

In 1907, a rabbit-proof fence was built in Western Australia in an unsuccessful attempt to contain the rabbits.

The myxoma virus, which causes myxomatosis, was introduced into the rabbit population in the 1950s and had the effect of severely reducing the rabbit population.

Read more...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbits_in_Australia