A NEW strain of calcivirus has been confirmed in rabbits in WA, following detections in other parts of Australia.
Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) research officer Susan Campbell said the haemorrhagic virus strain, known as RHDV2, had been confirmed in the Perth metropolitan and Great Southern areas.
RHDV2 was detected in a wild rabbit in Canberra in 2015 and the virus has since been found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Dr Campbell said researchers were monitoring how rapidly RHDV2 was spreading across the country and what impact it may have on pest rabbit populations.
RHDV2 can cause death in young rabbits and vaccinated rabbits.
The virus can cause death in young rabbits and vaccinated rabbits.
