CSIRO categorically rejects the claim in today's Melbourne that "CSIRO had intentionally failed to test the virus in detail because of embarassment over the accidental release of the virus ..."

"CSIRO scientists, at the request of the Australian and New Zealand Governments, have rigorously tested rabbit calicivirus over the last five years of work" said Dr Mike Rickard, Chief of CSIRO's Division of Animal Health.

"Their results have been extensively reviewed by independent veterinary and medical experts."

According to today's Age, an American scientist states that "the rabbit-killing calicivirus will almost certainly infect people."

This is contrary to information collected by international and Australian scientists and authorities, and contrary to the results of comprehensive tests conducted in Australia.

The real facts are:

Rabbit calicivirus is present in over forty countries around the world. In Italy alone it killed 64 million farmed rabbits before spreading across continental Europe. Many people were accidentally exposed to the virus - with no reports of disease or side-effects.

At the request of the Australian Government, CSIRO conducted three years of safety testing inside the high security Australian Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong. Their initial testing of rabbit calicivirus on 28 species was rigorous and was reviewed by independent experts.

Following the escape of the virus from field trials on Wardang Island - which commenced after extensive tests at AAHL - the Australian and New Zealand Governments commissioned testing of five more species.

Human health study

The Australian Government also commissioned a study independent of CSIRO, to assess potential human health implications of exposure to the virus. The study involved Federal and State, human and animal health authorities as well as independent infectious disease experts.

259 humans who had had occupational exposure to rabbit calicivirus were interviewed and tested for antibodies to the virus. All showed no signs of infection or side effects.

The study also sought advice from international laboratories working with rabbit calicivirus. Responses from 47 groups in 16 countries confirmed that human infection with rabbit calicivirus is not known to occur and no ill effects have been seen, even in people working very closely with the virus in laboratory and experimental settings.

More information on rabbit calicivirus is available on the Web at /communication/rabbits/rabbits.htm

For information about CSIRO's work contact contact Niall Byrne, CSIRO Animal Health, (052) 27 5028, ah (052) 53 1935, mobile (018) 52 4114.

For information about the Australian Government's assessment of rabbit calicivirus contact Dr Peter O'Brien, Bureau of Resource Sciences on 0418 241 616.