This Day in History: 1951-03-03

1951 March: The first trials in Western Australia in the use of the myxomatosis virus to control rabbits, was conducted at Muresk Agricultural College, using wild rabbits caught on the property. Infected rabbits were placed in small enclosures on the Avon River, near Muresk, and on the Toodyay Brook, near Bejoording. The plan was for mosquitoes to bite the infected rabbits and carry the virus to other rabbits. Unfortunately, the first virus batch was faulty, so a second was tried.

Sources:
Western mail, 5 April 1951, p.5 S.
West Australian, 9 April 1951, p.5.