CALICI WARNING-Australia

[jerseygirl]

Notice for Aussie bunny owners, particularly any South Aussie members.  I have copied this direct from wildwoodbunnies.com where it was posted a few days ago.

 WARNINGS: 10/11/08

Calici Virus: There has been a severe outbreak of calici virus. As far as we can tell there is a mutated version around this year. So far there have been approximately 1500 known deaths in the past 2-3 weeks within the SA metro area. All rabbit owners should bring their rabbits inside and if they have not been vaccinated within the last 10 months, then do so ASAP. This is the only potential way to save your furry friends.

Brown Snakes: Please be aware that brown snakes of all sizes are moving to the metro area in search of water. Please keep an eye out as a brown snake of any size has enough poison to cause death.

 

 

You don’t have to wait 12 months to have calici shots again.  My vets office told me you can get as often as every 6.  I’m bringing Jerseys vaccinations forward to the next few weeks, as it is warming up and the mossie population is on the rise.

 

[Beka27]

oh my! i saw a thing on tv last night about the wild bun population in AUS. i’m not familiar with this, is this something that they have introduced?

[bunnytowne]

Beka was it on the history channel or which one ?  I would like to catch it if it comes on again. Thats scary for bun owners.  And those snakes oh my.

[Cassi&Charlie]

Yep, scientists introduced it to kill all the bunnies. Mine had their vac not long ago so I should be ok, but I’m definately not letting them outside!

[KatnipCrzy]

I am scared of snakes- so to read the blurb on the bottom about snakes gave me the creeps.  In Michigan we do not have many poisonous snakes.  And I have lived in a more urban area for the past 14 years- so I have not even seen a snake outside in that long.  The thought of snakes relocating for something as simple and obvious as water makes me want to fill up kiddie pools of water where they are now so they won’t come live by me.  LOL   

[jerseygirl]

The lady who runs the rescue/stud,(?) whose website posted this warning told me few months ago that the virus was being re-released. Don’t know if it was mutated form then or it has since mutated.

[Beka27]

no it wasn’t on history, it was on some “freaky facts” show or something along those lines, Mike was watching it. the buns in AUS are causing huge erosion, i guess due to burrowing and then the ground is caving in? they mentioned myxi, but i was not sure what Calici was…

[Danmers]

I’m soooo glad I got my bunnies done 4 weeks ago. Can anyone please tell me some warning signs of calici virus? Im not all that familiar with it. Myxi shows as swollen eyes is that right? I’m really terrified my bunnies will get it. It gives me nightmares lol. I just don’t understand why they won’t let us vaccinate. Its very wrong.

[Cassi&Charlie]

Myxi is swollen eyes and swollen glands. If they have swelling near testes, eyes, throat & anal glands then sores will prob appear soon, otherwise swollen eyes & face, loss of appetite and detah.

Calici usually doesn’t have many signs cause it does it’s damage internally, but bunnies generally die within a day of contracting the disease.

Danmers – I’m also really paranoid because the lab I work in uses Myxi all the time because it’s a really good model virus to work on (no, not while it’s in bunnies don’t worry!) so as soon as I get home I have to basically shower, change clothes & be really responsible…although it’s highly highly unlikely transmission will occur from my hands, clothes to bunnies, I’m still paranoid.

[jerseygirl]

Calici is also known as Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). 

With the myxi, there is an argument that if domestic rabbits etc are vaccinated, the immunity could spread to the wild population.  The wild rabbits have already built their own immunity anyway!  There are petitions around to allow for the vacc in Aust.  Heres a link to one of them.

http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitions/make-myxomatosis-vaccine-legal.html

The meat farmers will probably be heard before pet owners as it is affecting their industry. 

[Deleted User]

OK let me get this straight…
Scientists PURPOSELY released this virus to kill all the bunnies????? WHAT THE HELL?!?! Why?? what do bunnies hurt??

sorry for yelling (!!!!!) just really makes me mad!

[Danmers]

The calici virus and myxi are released into the WILD rabbit population, it does not specifically target pet populations. I disagree with the method of control because its usually a very painful and drawn out death. I find it inhumane but I do agree with the purpose. As harsh as it is killing bunnies it’s important to remember they are a real problem in Australia. They destroy the environment which damages australias ecosystem as well as impacting on native animals by outcompeting them. Rabbits also sustain the fox population as they are the main prey and no-one wants a pest population of foxes. The fact they don’t offer pet owners access to the myxi vaccination is ridiculous and completely …wrong lol. It has been proven to be extremely unlikely that pet populations can transfer the immunity to wild populations and yet we still can’t vaccinate. Please help Australian rabbit owners by signing the petition at the link provided by jerseygirll!!

[Deleted User]

Thank you for clarifying danmers!!!! That makes total sense now. I learn sooooo much on these forums and I end up feeling so ignorant!

i will def. sign the petition!

[Deleted User]

I have another question…well 2 actually.

Is there another way, which isn’t so vicious?? I just read the petition and the info there on how the rabbits die….how horrible!!!!

Also, if you keep your bunnies inside, does it keep them safe?? How scary! Lots of vibes to all our Australian bun-buns to keep safe and healthy during this release!!!!

[Danmers]

There are several other methods such as trapping but this is time consuming having to check all the traps and of course putting them out. Shooting is also ineffective because theres just soo many of them and fencing is really expensive so biological controls such as calicivirus are time/money efficient. Im not some freak that knows all this just because ok, I’m studyign this in school! Just to reiterate…not a study freak. lol.

Calici and myxi are spread by mosquitoes/rabbit fleas which freaks me out because mosquitoes can get inside!! So even if indoors its hard to prevent exposure to these viruses. It’s more prevalent in the country areas though and because I live nearish the city its not as bad. I’ts harder to prevent in house rabbits because in hutch rabbits you can just mosquito proof their hutch but you can’t exactly mosquito proof the whole house.

[jerseygirl]

Ideally they could invent something that made the bucks magically sterile. They’ve trialed something like this with fruit flies or cane toads (can’t remember but it was some out of control pest.) The vet I saw today didn’t think the myxi vaccine would be allowed but we’ll campaign all the same. She also said giving the vaccine it more complex(???).

Danmers, nothing wrong with studying or continually learning!

[Author]

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