Calicivirus RHDV2 vaccine development

Summary of RHDV2 vaccine development – December 2018 Extract from Centre for Invasive Species Solutions

Along with three strains of RHDV1, an exotic RHD virus called RHDV2 is also circulating in Australian rabbit populations, after being first detected in wild rabbits in May 2015.

We now know this virus has spread throughout most of Australia and is currently the dominant
circulating RHD virus strain at a national scale.

In collaboration with its Members and Partners, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions has begun
two projects to further assess the biological properties and distribution of RHDV2 in the Australian
landscape and its potential as a future additional registered product.

Along with this work, the Centre has also provided some funding that contributes to the development
of a vaccine specific for RHDV2, being led by NSW DPI.

There has been excellent progress to date, and documentation is being prepared for submission to
APVMA for a pilot "standalone" RHDV2 vaccine.

Once submitted, the proposal will be assessed by the APVMA. Once all regulatory requirements are
met, the commercial vaccine manufacturer will be able to commence production of a pilot batch.
As it is unknown how long these processes will take, it is currently not possible to provide an estimate of when this vaccine will be available to the public.

Research to develop a multi-valent vaccine that would provide protection against both RHDV1 and
RHDV2 strains, is ongoing.

It is still recommended by veterinarians that all pet rabbits are vaccinated with Cylap® to protect
against RHDV.

While this vaccine is not fully effective against RHDV2, it will protect rabbits from any circulating
RHDV1 K5 strain released in the vicinity for rabbit control, as well as any other naturally circulating
RHDV1 strains.

VOICE FOR RABBITS ON RADIO

Listen to Jazzie McMillan. Feel her passion. Share this post. Make this go viral. We are going to lose all our pet rabbits to Calicivirus if we don't get the Govt to help us on this one issue. LISTEN TO THE RADIO INTERVIEW

PET OWNERS GUTTED! GOVT VIRUS KILLING PETS!
Jazzie MacMillan from The Rabbit Sanctuary Australia

LISTEN ON RADIO LINK... & yes, you WILL BE EMOTIONAL!

In 2015 the Australian Government released a deadly rabbit virus without consideration of pet rabbit owners love for their pet bunnies and without consultation with vets or the pet industry.

Without a vaccine. The Government is breaking the law.
It is illegal to release a virus without a vaccine. It is killing people’s beloved pets.

1. There is a vaccine overseas. We want the Aust Govt to immediately allow its import. There is no cost to the government. Vets buy the vaccine. Users pay. Pet Rabbit Owners need that vaccine to protect their pets. We love our bunnies.

2. Thousands of pet rabbits have already died. Pet rabbit owners are living in fear of losing their beloved pets. If this were dogs and cats no-one would stand for it. Rabbit owners are in the minority but they love their rabbits as much if not more than dog owners love their dogs. It is wrong to release a virus that kills people’s pets without a vaccine. Very wrong. It shows that the Australian Government doesn’t care about its citizens.

3. The new virus known as RHD2 was ‘accidentally’ released by the Government in 2015. This was irresponsible. CSIRO scientists should be under stricter control. In 2017 the Government is planning to import yet another deadly rabbit virus that will kill pretty much all pet rabbits in Australia because it is carried by flies. There is no way we can keep flies away from our pets. There is no vaccine for this Korean calicivirus import. It could also jump to Australian native wildlife or other animals. There is some evidence of this happening overseas. The Korean virus is known as K5. There is also a recent report of a dog eating a rabbit infected with the virus and dying in Bathurst NSW

Conclusion

The Rabbit Sanctuary is asking everyone who cares about animals, about pet rabbit owners, about the Australian Environment to make a face to face appointment to see their local Minister of Parliament to ask the Government to stop the import of the Korean virus and to allow the importation of the vaccine that governments in other countries have provided for pet rabbit owners for the one they released last year.