Pet rabbit owners wonder over and over again how the terrible RHDV2 rabbit calicivirus was introduced into Australia. It is a different strain to the first one that the government brought into our country to eradicate the wild rabbits. Pet rabbits can be vaccinated against the original calicivirus but the government released RHDV2 before a vaccine could be developed to protect people’s precious pet bunnies. 

We heard rumours that RHDV2 rabbit calicivirus was ‘accidentally’ released from a government lab. This is referred to in the New Scientist magazine Issue 1995.