New Zealand has three strains of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), which is also known as rabbit calicivirus.

• RHDV1v 351 was illegally released in 1997
• RHDV1 K5 (Korean variant) was released in March/April 2018
• RHDV2 was detected in a wild rabbits in 2018.

These viruses are now present in wild rabbits throughout the country and in some instances rabbits have developed antibodies to the virus. In some regions rabbit contractors are shooting rabbits and taking blood samples to test whether the rabbits in their region are carrying the antibodies. We would like you to share your knowledge and test results on this platform to help create a country wide picture of the current situation in regards to RHDV.