Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Australian authorities deliberately spread Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, Myxomatosis and several species of flea across Australia. Current research into viral vectored immunocontraception, which may eventually escape onto the Australian continent, gives great cause for concern.
Many viruses are capable of crossing species lines as well as mutation and recombination.
No man is an island unto himself. In October 1995, RHD escaped from field trials on Wardang Island, five kilometres off the South Australian coast. In August 1997 Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease was illegally introduced into New Zealand by a group of South Island Farmers. This release took place after the Ministry of Agriculture declined the import application of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus, as a biological control for feral rabbits. Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease isolated in Cuba.