The RHDV1 K5 strain, a Korean variant of the RHD virus illegally released in 1997, was released in autumn and MacLean said some farmers hoped for a repeat of the devastating knock-down the initial RHD virus achieved.
But that was never going to happen because the population’s inherent background immunity.
“K5 was never going to be a panacea.”
MacLean said the council had encouraged farmers to continue conventional control with the virus taking the top off the population.
The council is a member of the New Zealand Rabbit Co-ordination Group, a collaboration of regional and district councils, the Conservation Department, Land Information New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Landcare Research and Federated Farmers.