Myxomatosis is a virus disease that was introduced into Australia by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to help control the population of European rabbits.
Myxomatosis occurs naturally in a South American rabbit, called the tapeti. The deadly effect of the disease on European rabbits was discovered in Brazil in 1919. It was first tested in Australia in 1936, as a means to control the rabbit population, but the tests proved unsuccessful. In 1950 and 1951, mosquitoes carrying the disease were released in the Murray Valley. Within a year, rabbits from South Australia to Queensland were infected with the disease and millions died. Some rabbits, however, developed resistance to the disease.
In the 1950’s, myxomatosis was introduced into rabbit populations in France. Before long, the disease had spread throughout Europe, killing many rabbits. Eventually, however, the European rabbits gradually developed immunity from the disease.
See also Fenner, Frank John .
