Update for pet rabbit owners:
Ministry for Primary Industries
We've got a social media update for pet rabbit owners:
Following the discovery of a new strain of calicivirus on a Marlborough farm in May, MPI has now sourced vaccine doses to protect pet rabbits. The initial order of 2000 doses for the RHDV2 strain have now been distributed to veterinarians who ordered it. Ongoing supplies are also secured and available to vets via AsureQuality. Rabbit owners who would like to vaccinate their rabbits will need to book an appointment with their veterinarian. While MPI will cover the cost of these first 2000 vaccine doses, rabbit owners will need to cover any additional costs, such as the veterinarian's consultation fee.
There are also a number of practical steps people can take to minimise the risk to their pets. If you own rabbits, you should keep them separate from wild rabbits, wash hands between handling rabbits and control insects around pet rabbits as they can spread the virus between rabbits.
When MPI confirmed the new strain of the rabbit calicivirus, we suspected a wider distribution since it was a wild rabbit. Two further cases of RHDV2 have since been confirmed, both involving wild rabbits in the Bay of Plenty. These cases were picked up as part of monitoring the effectiveness of the controlled calicivirus K5 release that was undertaken earlier in the year.
We still don’t know how widespread this strain is in New Zealand, but because the virus can spread rapidly, there is a chance it is already prevalent in the wild.
The virus affects rabbits and the European hare. It has no impact on human health or other animals.
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Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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4.9% Second half of November
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44.8% 1st December
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17% A week before Christmas
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32.1% Whenever you wish
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
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