Myxomatosis and rabbit control in New Zealand

Authors: Gumbrell RC
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 4, pp 54-55, Apr 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Rabbit, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Animal welfare, Biosecurity, Legal/regulation, Viral, Pest/pesticides, Disease/defect, Infectious disease
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Considerable debate has occurred m New Zealand over the last few years on the desirability of the viral disease myxomatosis to control rabbits. Early in 1985 this culminated in the request from the Agricultural Pest Destruction Council (APDC) and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries to allow then to introduce myxomatosis virus and the European rabbit flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi (S.cuniculi). The Minister requested that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be prepared on this. The report did not support the use of myxomatosis and was not formally submitted for audit. The Association opposes the introduction of myxomatosis for rabbit control in New Zealand. Not all members of the Association support this policy and debate within the profession has occurred in the correspondence section of this Journal. The topic has also been discussed at the recent..

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