Record myxomatosis outbreak hits Guernsey rabbits

An outbreak of myxomatosis in Guernsey's wild rabbits is being described by an animal charity as the worst it has ever seen, with more than 500 rabbits affected since the start of the year.

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said the number of cases had already surpassed previous bad years, including outbreaks seen in 2017 and 2023.

He said high rabbit numbers and warm weather had helped the disease spread through increased activity from biting insects, such as fleas and mosquitoes.

Symptoms include swelling and a discharge around the eyes, weight loss and lethargy. There is currently no cure once a rabbit becomes infected.

Byrne said many rabbits being found were sitting in roads, lanes, fields and on the common because they were too weak to move away.

He urged people who found a rabbit showing signs of myxomatosis to help if they could do so safely.

"If you can catch it, get it to the vets or bring it to us," he said.

He said a towel or jumper could be used to safely catch a suspected infected rabbit before taking it to a vet or the GSPCA in a suitable container.

The GSPCA has also urged people to remove deceased rabbits where possible and dispose of them safely, as insects carrying the disease could continue to spread it to other rabbits.

Vets are also reporting a sharp increase in rabbits being brought in with suspected myxomatosis.

Senior veterinary nurse Sarah Ozanne, who works at Isabelle's Vets, said about 45 rabbits were treated in one week, and the condition of some animals arriving for treatment had been distressing.

"They're very, very underweight; very skinny. They've got their eyes sort of welded shut from all the discharge," she said.

Ozanne said myxomatosis only affected rabbits and hares and did not pose a risk to other pets, such as dogs.

However, she warned domestic rabbits could also become infected, even if they were kept at home or in a private garden, as fleas and biting flies could carry the disease.

Rabbit owners are being reminded to make sure their pets are vaccinated.

Both the GSPCA and local vets said vaccination was the best protection against myxomatosis, although it could not provide complete immunity.

Flea and mosquito control, along with limiting contact with wild rabbits, could also help reduce the risk, they added.

Ozanne said prevention was vital because, once a rabbit developed the disease, treatment options were extremely limited.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.