Myxomatosis is a devastating viral disease of rabbits that causes immense suffering and is almost always fatal in unvaccinated animals. It remains a major welfare issue for wild and domestic rabbits.
Myxomatosis causes one of the most distressing disease courses in rabbits. Infected animals develop extensive subcutaneous tumors, become blind, and die slowly from secondary infections and respiratory failure. The welfare implications for wild rabbit populations affected by the disease are enormous - billions of rabbits have died in Europe since introduction. For domestic rabbits, vaccination is the most effective welfare intervention available.