By Ian Holmes

Status of deadly rabbit virus that hit Nanaimo unclear

Dec 9, 2018 | 1:38 PM

NANAIMO — B.C.’s chief veterinarian is perplexed by the abrupt end to reports of mass casualties among feral rabbits in Nanaimo and other areas of the south coast.

Dr. Jane Pritchard, chief veterinary officer with the province’s agriculture ministry, said the regional status of calicivirus, which causes the fatal rabbit hemorrhagic disease, is unclear.

She said it’s estimated over 100 domesticated feral European rabbits died in the area of Nanaimo’s VIU campus between late February and early May.

“Then all of a sudden we seem to have stopped getting any submissions. Without the submissions we’re blinded to what’s going on out there.”

She said smaller numbers of rabbits died from calicivirus as it spread as far north as the Comox Valley and Delta, while a few confirmed reports of the disease sprung up as far south as Ladysmith.

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Dr. Pritchard said the fatal and easily transferable disease is exclusive to feral rabbits which were once pets and does not impact wild native bunnies.

She said their Abbotsford based lab tests free of charge for calicivirus. Further testing could lead to more confirmed cases and a strengthened argument for licensing the European vaccine in Canada.

The disease ravaged rabbit populations in Spain, while a small number of domestic cases were previously confirmed in Manitoba and Quebec, according to Dr. Pritchard.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes