The reminder follows the confirmed death from RCD of a pet rabbit on a property in the Wellington residential suburb of Vogeltown. Five other rabbits on the same property are also suspected to have died from the virus. Possible sources of infection are contaminated feed or hay, humans carrying the virus on clothing or shoes, or insect vectors. Direct contact with an RCD-infected rabbit is not required to spread the virus.
Vaccinations are available through registered veterinarians.
Rabbits are immunised at about two and a half to three months of age. If they are under two and a half months of age, they should be revaccinated every three weeks until they reach three months. In all other cases a single dose is given. The timing of vaccination is critical because maternal antibodies, which are passed on by mothers to their young, confer temporary immunity, but can inactivate the vaccine. At two and a half to three months, most of the maternal antibodies in young rabbits have disappeared.