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.”