Sorry for the delay with my answer - the daily work. But, I hope my answer is still useful.

a) I cannot accept the release of any “biological weapon” neither against humans nor any other species! As we still have no information about the source the RHD/VHD/EBHS virus came from and also the pathways of distribution are still unknown (carried by birds? insects? predators? drifted by the wind or any other carrier?) any experimental spreading should not legally be done. I am afraid, the virus might cross unforeseen species barriers. And I am not sure whether experimental work can absolutely give security. Even the ELISA test, from my opinion, will give no guarantee. It will only inform about the presence of antibodies, but not whether the animal/species will be affected from the infection with the virus.Last but not least , one should not forget the evolution also of viruses; any virus will produce new varieties (think of the Aids virus!) and we do not know what will happen when reaching a new species.

b) I am not sure whether the intramuscular inoculation will be equivalent to the natural way of infection. From my own experience, when I got the deadening infection of captive brown hares (Lepus europeaeus) from unknown reason! I can say that the intramuscular route is not the usual one for the virus. Via mucuose membranes the doses might be much smaller. On the other hand, i.m. infection might be without any response even on higher levels , though the host might be infectious. As I am a biologist and not a veterinarian pp. I can’t comment on the cut off of the ELISA test - but ELISA was not successful in some cases of biological material from brown hares which had shown pathalogical symptoms of EBHS. For what reason I should not trust in short time experience, and as we have still no knowledge about the potential length of incubation under field conditions, I should not expect that two weeks or even 35 days is long enough to make the thing safe.

c) As far as I know, no research was carried out on the effects of the RCD on predators.

d) In Germany the release of RCD-virus or any other is not discussed, and it would be illegal. RHD is subject to registration at the state veterinary administration. Each infected stock of domestic rabbits will be eradicated. Altogether, the release of RCD is as irresponsible as any other agent. And as far as we know from the European hare and also rabbit populations, the effect on population dynamics is low (myxomatosis seems to be more effective in wild rabbit populations). At present low density the brown hare population , at least, seems to be not significantly reduced by the EBHS and about 60% of the population show antibodies. Thus, the expected reduction of rabbits will not come about - but any unconsidered species might be impaired.