Myxomatosis and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in Wild Rabbits

Myxomatosis and Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease cause enormous suffering in wild rabbit populations, representing one of the most significant sources of wildlife disease mortality in the UK.

Key Facts

Myxomatosis was deliberately introduced to Australia in 1950 and reached the UK in 1953, killing 99% of the UK rabbit population
Surviving rabbits developed partial immunity but myxomatosis continues to cause annual population cycles
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease 2 (RHDV2) emerged in Europe in 2010 and affects both rabbits and hares
Myxomatosis causes progressive blindness, skin tumors, swelling and death over 10-14 days in non-immune animals
Wild rabbits with myxomatosis can often be identified by swollen eyes and nose, lethargy and loss of flight response

Welfare Considerations

Myxomatosis represents one of the most prolonged and distressing deaths suffered by any common UK wildlife species. Affected rabbits experience progressive blindness from swelling around the eyes, develop painful skin tumors, and suffer organ failure over one to two weeks. They are unable to eat or drink effectively and become completely vulnerable to predation and trauma. The welfare case for euthanizing myxomatosis-affected rabbits that cannot recover is strong. Wild rabbit populations play important ecological roles — their decline affects predator populations including foxes, buzzards and stoats that depend on them as prey.

What You Can Do

Humanely euthanize or take severely affected myxomatosis rabbits to wildlife rescue if found
Vaccinate pet rabbits against myxomatosis and RHDV2 annually
Support wildlife rehabilitation centers treating rabbits with recoverable myxomatosis cases
Learn to recognize myxomatosis symptoms to assess whether found rabbits can be helped