Continued
Taking into account the range of mosquitoes this allows transmission of the myxoma virus over greater areas than are usually travelled by the rabbits alone. This allows the spread of the virus to take place between colonies of rabbits, and in the case of the fleas, allows rabbits from a different colony to become infected be entering a warren where all the occupants have been killed by myxomatosis some months previously.

The symptoms of myxomatosis include a watery discharge from the eyes and swelling of the eyelids and nose. Death follows in about two weeks. Since 1952, it has been illegal to spread the disease in Britain by the use of infected animals. Nevertheless, an epidemic broke out in Britain in 1953. It has been estimated that 99% of the rabbit population of over 60 million died in this epidemic.

Apart from killing off large numbers of the rabbit population, myxomatosis had an indirect effect on the rabbit's predators. The buzzard population in particular suffered a serious setback. Grass on downlands quickly became long since there were fewer rabbits, and attacks by foxes on hen roosts and game became more frequent. The disease is still liable to flare up in some areas, although there are indications that many rabbits are now immune.