Pet rabbit owners warned to get their fluffy friends vaccinated ahead of release of potent new calicivirus

DOMESTIC rabbit owners must immunise their pets to safeguard them from a lethal new form of the calicivirus, to be released early next month.

DOMESTIC rabbit owners must immunise their pets to safeguard them from a lethal new form of the calicivirus, to be released early next month.

Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell said the latest variation of the calicivirus would be released throughout Australia next month, including at 45 spots across South Australia, in an effort to curb resurgent numbers of feral rabbits.

“This latest strain which has been developed in Korea aims at knocking those numbers down again, but we don’t want innocent victims with the pet rabbits of South Australia being exposed to the calicivirus,” he said

“While it is a great thing for our agriculture industry and native vegetation ... we are advising pet owners to go out and get the latest vaccine to keep their rabbits safe.”

Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell, with domestic rabbits Silverbell and Ruben, is urging pet owners to get their bunnies vaccinated or risk them being infected by potent new form of calicivirus. Picture: Simon Cross

The first calicivirus was released in 1996 and devastated feral rabbit, but numbers have bounced back after the animals built up an immunity to that strain.

Mr Bignell said feral rabbits caused an average of $206m in damage to the environment each year and had contributed to more than 200 native species of animals being under threat.

He warned domestic rabbit owners that the latest calicivirus strain posed a real danger to pets.

“Unless your rabbits are kept inside ... they are vulnerable, so the warning is if you love your rabbit, get it vaccinated,” he said.

Australian Veterinary Association president Anne Fowler said the calicivirus was spread by flies, which transferred the virus from infected to healthy rabbits.

“It is highly infectious, and that is one of the reasons it has been chosen as a control agent, so my strong advice is vaccination.

Dr Fowler urged pet owners to contact their vets, saying vaccinations at her Adelaide clinic cost about $85 and could be incorporated in a regular health check.