It was first reported in China in 1984, and arrived in Europe in 1986. Soon it spread over the continent killing millions of rabbits. The virus was imported into Australia under quarantine as a possible biological control agent for wild rabbits. Release of the virus on the mainland was scheduled for 1997 or 1998. Rabbit populations very quickly build up to plague proportions.
Rabbits also eat crops, particularly the growing points of legumes such as lupins.
Rabbits invade and take over the habitat of some native animals. It does not cause human illness nor does it affect any animal other than the European rabbit. In the later stages of testing, the virus was released into a rabbit population on Wardang Island in South Australia. In spite of extensive precautions it managed to escape to the mainland and is now well established in South Australia and western New South Wales. Disease Symptoms Blood clots form in the major organs such as the lungs, heart and kidneys No obvious physical change in appearance Rabbits appear listless Death occurs within 30 to 40 hours Infected rabbits show no obvious sign of distress.