Rod, at 09:27 on May 20 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

RS> Its stopped. Not clear why yet. While it got into western NSW very
RS> quickly after it escaped from the island, it hasnt got here yet.

BG> Interesting.  Might need seeding to speed things up a bit then.

RS> So far they have decided not to, mainly to do more testing for any
RS> undesirable effects on the local fauna. There were a couple of odditys
RS> from the NZ testing, a couple of native species developed antibodys
RS> which they should not have done, tho no deaths or anything.

Do these antibodies mean that the animal has developed an immunity, or that
it has become a carrier, and is then able to infect other species?

BG> Yeah, it sure spread a hell of a lot more
BG> rapidly than one would normally consider likely.

RS> Yeah, particularly to Broken Hill type regions. The Flinders ranges
RS> could easily have been insects born but the BH is harder to explain.
RS> Corse its also possible its accidentally spread by humans too.

Or, given it's original method of introduction, intentionally.

BG> or for the rabbits to develop an immunity.

RS> They have already, and they have in europe where it came from too.

So in 20 years or so, we'll be right back to square one then?  Brilliant.

BG> Any idea of the time frame involved?

RS> Immediately basically, the ones that didnt die in say the Flinders Ranges.

Do you know if any locally infected rabbits have managed to survive?

RS> Nope, its just the usual approach of using a virus
RS> with a very high mortality to decimate the population.
                                  ^^^^^^^^
Seems we have the Romans to thank for that.  :)

RS> It just happened to itself evolve like that in europe etc.

Any idea what it's related to, virus-wise?

Regards, Bill

--- Msgedsq/2 3.20