I went out last week with my NV gear and covered about 200 acres. I would once have expected to see 100-200 rabbits in the course of a night. Instead I saw 5! That was 5 single rabbits in 5 different locations.
I have noted some of the slightly sceptical comments about the Govt. deliberately releasing infected rabbits, and must admit that I was also not inclined to believe them - but see this clip on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEmNzAIELK8
You will see that in Australia the government are quite open about releasing it. Perhaps the government here are a bit more reluctant because they know that the 'bunny huggers' would be out in their thousands, probably led by Brian May!
In AUS they call RVHD 'Calicivirus', which is a bit easier to remember. The disease is very quick acting, and over 90% fatal, death following usually in 1 to 3 days. The few rabbits that recover go on to act as carriers spreading the disease even further. Because death follows so quickly most of the carcasses are underground and unseen lying within the burrows. The carcasses which are aboveground still seem to be eaten by foxes, badgers and other predators who then go on to spread the disease further with their faeces.
The disease is thought to have spread to the wild rabbit population from contact with pet rabbits and not the other way around. Angorra rabbits are thought by some to have been the originators of the first outbreak.
The symptoms of the disease are hard to spot, and because death follows so quickly the disease has proved to be devastating even for pet rabbits - most affected bunnies go from being the lethargic and off-colour to being dead very quickly.
Fortunately the disease only affects rabbits, and death occurs as a result of haemorrhaging - usually internally but sometimes externally as well.
I think this is a situation worth keeping an eye on.
Badsworth