Last Updated: 20/10/2026
Rabbit Calicivirus in Australia: What Every Owner Needs To Know
Our vet explains what calicivirus (RHDV2) means for pet rabbits, vaccination to protect them, and the practical steps that lower the risk.
Author: Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
Calicivirus is one of the most frightening diseases we see in pet rabbits, and it can reach a rabbit that lives indoors and has never met a wild one. The reassuring part is that you can do a lot to protect your rabbit, and vaccination is the most important step. This guide explains what calicivirus is, the signs to watch for, how it spreads, which vaccine protects your rabbit, and what to do if you suspect your rabbit is affected.
What Is Rabbit Calicivirus?
Rabbit calicivirus, also called rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), is a highly contagious virus that affects rabbits and hares. It damages the liver and causes bleeding and abnormal clotting throughout the body.
Australia has had more than one strain. RHDV1 was released in 1996 to control wild rabbits, and a variant (RHDV1a, also known as K5) was released in 2017. RHDV2 was first detected here in 2015, and how it arrived is still unknown. Unlike RHDV1, which rarely makes very young kits sick, RHDV2 can affect kits from a few weeks of age, and older vaccines do not reliably protect against it.
In February 2026, CSIRO reported calicivirus in 38% of the samples submitted from NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, with RHDV2 the dominant strain. RHDV2 is now the dominant strain causing deaths in pet rabbits in Australia.
What Are the Signs of Calicivirus in Rabbits?
Many rabbits show no signs at all and sudden death is commonly reported. When signs do appear, they can look like other rabbit illnesses at first:
- Early signs: lethargy, a poor appetite, a high temperature, hiding, and changes in droppings similar to gut stasis.
- More serious signs: difficulty breathing, blood from the nose, mouth or back end, blood on the cage floor, jaundice, or seizures.
With the RHDV2 strain, illness can last three to five days before death, while other strains can kill within a day or two. The virus is fatal for most rabbits, although some survive with supportive care, and they can still spread the virus. There is no cure, so prevention is what matters most.
Important: bleeding, collapse or sudden refusal to eat is an emergency. Call your vet straight away.
Which Vaccine Protects My Rabbit?
Two vaccines are used in Australia, and they offer different levels of protection:
- Filavac VHD K C+V: protects against both RHDV1 and RHDV2. It has been available in Australia since May 2022. The first dose is given to rabbits from 10 weeks of age, followed by a booster dose repeated every 12 months.
- Cylap RCD: contains RHDV1 only. It may give some partial protection against RHDV2, but that protection is not reliable.
Protection is not instant. It typically takes about one week for full immunity to kick in, so keep up the home precautions below in the meantime.
No vaccine is 100% effective, but vaccinating your rabbit is the most effective method of protection against calicivirus.
How Can I Reduce My Rabbit's Risk at Home?
Vaccination works best alongside good biosecurity. These steps make the biggest difference:
- Keep your rabbit indoors and mosquito-proof the enclosure: an indoor rabbit is much safer. If you cannot house your rabbit indoors, keep them in a secure, insect-proofed enclosure. Add fly-screen around the hutch and ideally bring rabbits inside at dusk and dawn.
- Avoid exposure to wild rabbits: rabbit-proof your yard with robust fencing so wild rabbits cannot reach your pet's space.
- Wash your hands and change your shoes and clothes after handling other rabbits or visiting places where rabbits live.
- Limit contact with unfamiliar rabbits, and avoid sharing equipment or bedding.
- Disinfect regularly. Use an antimicrobial disinfectant such as F10 then rinse well before your rabbit goes back in.
- Control flies and other biting insects, remove uneaten food daily, and avoid feeding greens picked where wild rabbits graze.
What To Do If I Suspect My Rabbit Has Calicivirus?
If your rabbit is showing any of the signs of calicivirus, contact your vet right away. It is important that your rabbit is seen urgently, and your vet will assess them and run tests to work out how likely calicivirus is. In the meantime, keep your rabbit isolated from any other rabbits in the house, and practise good hygiene and biosecurity: wash your hands and change your clothes and shoes after handling them, and disinfect anything they have touched.
Calicivirus FAQs
References:
- Australian Veterinary Association: Vaccination of rabbits and ferrets
- Department of Agriculture (DAFF): Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus
- CSIRO: February 2026 update
- Vet Voice: Rabbit calicivirus in Australia
- WOAH: Rabbit haemorrhagic disease
- Harcourt-Brown et al. 2020: RHDV2 epidemic in UK pet rabbits, Part 2
- APVMA: emergency permit for RHDV2 vaccine
Articles recommended for you
Thinking of getting a rabbit? Check our guide on diet, housing, grooming, and parasite care!
Worried about what's in your rabbit's litter tray? Here's how to tell healthy rabbit poop from the warning signs your vet needs to know about.
Discover critical info on gut stasis in rabbits and guinea pigs. Find out how prompt veterinary care can save your small pet's life.
Learn all about the signs of dental disease in rabbits, with this vet written article.
Interested in knowing more about teaching your rabbit to live in the house? Check our guide to training your rabbit into a house rabbit.
From a happy binky to an anxious thump, your rabbit is always trying to tell you something. Our guide helps you interpret the subtle cues and common behaviours of your bunny. Unlock their unique language to know if they're content, scared, or showing affection, and deepen your connection.
History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Tue Oct 20 2026
Written by Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian)
Veterinarian
Dr Olivia graduated from Murdoch University in 2015 and worked in Western Australia before moving to Sydney to work in specialist practice as an avian and exotics veterinarian. Olivia has thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of species and interesting cases in her time as an exotics veterinarian. She has a particular soft spot for rabbits and thoroughly enjoys all aspects of rabbit medicine and surgery. She also has many years of experience working with dogs and cats as well as an array of wildlife.
