Warning Issued by Animal Rights Groups over Rabbit Virus
PRESS RELEASE
Warning Issued by Animal Rights Groups over Rabbit Virus
The Rabbit Council of New Zealand and the National Rabbit Association are deeply concerned about the potential release of another variant of the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Virus, known as RHDV1a-K5 - Korean strain. The endemic variant RHDV1 V351 Czech strain - which was illegally introduced - has caused many deaths of cherished pets and many breeders have lost valuable breed stock. The vaccine for the current Virus Cylap is only 80% effective against RHDV1 V351 and itself carries many risks, including death.
The impact of the new virus on feral rabbits will be negligible, with the New Zealand Rabbit Co-ordination Group stating the benefit as boosting the 27% who aren't susceptible up to a maximum of 40%. Just a potential 13% improvement at the cost of how many pet rabbits who have no innate immunity at all. A member of New Zealand Rabbit Co-ordination Group (RCG), Otago Regional Council, states publicly that for a landowner or occupier, the best rabbit control remains rabbit-proof fencing.
A new variant of this inhumane virus is NOT needed, NOT wanted and other more humane methods, of which there are many, should be used to control feral rabbits that do not put much loved pet rabbits and valuable breed and meat stock at risk.
There is no proven vaccine to protect cherished family pets against this new virus and any release should be delayed until a proven vaccine is available to properly tested registration standards. The manufacturer of Cylap, Zoetis are not making claims on the protection of Cylap against K5 and state there is no data on duration of protection of Cylap against K5.
The World Health Organisation recommends individual vaccines for each variant of a veterinary virus.
We do NOT have a vaccine for the RHDV1a-K5 variant.
Rabbits are highly intelligent, emotional, and trainable. Many more of these sentient creatures now live in their family's home in the same manner as a cat or a dog. Cats at protected under the pest eradication program, pet rabbits should be afforded the very same level of protection.
PRESS RELEASE
If you are concerned about the introduction of the new variant of the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Virus, please sign and share our petition here: http://tinyurl.com/hn46swp