Myxomatosis is a fatal viral disease of rabbits transmitted by biting insects, and annual vaccination is essential for companion rabbits with any outdoor access or potential insect exposure.
Myxomatosis causes progressive suffering over 10-14 days, during which rabbits experience swelling, pain, blindness and respiratory distress. Affected animals require immediate veterinary assessment; most are euthanased due to poor prognosis. Wild rabbit populations in the UK periodically suffer epizootics causing mass mortality with significant individual suffering across thousands of animals.