Myxomatosis causes prolonged suffering in wild rabbits and raises difficult questions about wildlife disease management.
Wild rabbits suffering from myxomatosis experience prolonged welfare crises: swelling, blindness, secondary infections, and starvation before death. The disease causes enormous aggregate suffering in wild populations. Humane interventions — such as euthanizing severely affected wild rabbits found by the public — reduce suffering. Vaccinating pet rabbits is both an individual welfare act and reduces reservoir potential.