VIRUS FOR RABBITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1938, Page 3

VIRUS FOR RABBITS

TESTS IN SOUTH. AUSTRALIA. Field tests conducted on Wardang Island, Yorke Peninsula (S.A.), have' proved that a virus being used by the Council for Scientific and Industrial. Research causes a fatal disease in, wild rabbits. This result confirms expectations raised by laboratory tests of the virus. The Minister in Charge of the Development (Mr Casey) said that in the tests not one case of recovery' among rabbits infected with the virushad been recorded. This applied to' about 700 rabbits used for experimental purposes and to wild rabbits living in natural conditions. It had already been proved, Mr Casey said, that the virus was not harmful to human beings, domestic animals or native animals. While it had been demonstrated in England and Australia that the disease which the infected rabbits contracted would wipe eut colonies of up to 55 rabbits in a month, Mr Casey explained it had not yet been proved that the disease would spread sufficiently rapidly from colony to colony of rabbits living under natural conditions so that the rabbit population could be controlled and removed from the list of pests.

Little was known of the social habits or rabbits, he added, but with more complete information it might be possible to devise methods which would assist the disease to spread, from colony to colony of rabbits. Tests were now being conducted for this purpose. The work already undertaken showed great promise, but at present there was nothing to indicate that the virus would prove completely successful under natural conditions. Further work was necessary before a final opinion could be given. He would ensure that progress reports were provided for the many persons interested in the work.