Rabbits that survive infection with RCD become immune for life. Rabbits can become immune to RCD if they eat dead RCD virus. Otago Regional Pest Services are experienced with this work and can offer this service to you at a modest charge. The Otago RCD research shows that use of RCD as a biocide has consistently given poorer kills than natural spread. Furthermore, the negative effects of biociding may continue for a year or more, resulting in a quicker recovery of the rabbit population and a longer time until RCD will be effective again.
Natural spread is therefore the method of choice.
Minute amounts of dead virus have been found to immunise rabbits that eat it. The Otago Regional Council RCD study strongly suggests that this has occurred on some properties in Otago. There is no authoritative research available. This is one more reason why use of RCD as a biocide is undesirable. It will be several years before confident predictions can be made on the time and frequency of natural RCD epidemics.