Otago Regional Council environmental officer for biosecurity Kirk Robertson lays chopped carrots laced with calicivirus. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONAn important moment for farming in the Taieri area occurred last night, when the Otago Regional Council released the new strain of rabbit-killing calicivirus. Clad in overalls and armed with a bucketful of contaminated carrots, council environmental officer for biosecurity Kirk Robertson released the virus RHDV1 K5 in the hills near Outram. In four to six weeks' time calicivirus was expected to become an epidemic, Mr Robertson said. The regional council said in a statement it encouraged land owners to make control plans for the winter months.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 19, 2018 16:13 UTC