RABBIT owners are being warned to be on the lookout for symptoms of a fatal disease after four vaccinated pets died from what is believed to have been killed by the myxomatosis virus.
A national database was yesterday informed that four pet rabbits have died in Barrow since Sunday. It is believed the rabbits may have contracted myxomatosis, a disease which they had been vaccinated against.
It is understood that samples from the deceased pets have been sent for testing and the manufacturer of the vaccine, MSD, has been informed of the possible vaccine failure.
Myxomatosis is a disease that affects rabbits and is caused by the myxoma virus.
The disease is spread by direct contact with an affected animal or by being bitten by fleas or mosquitoes that have fed on an infected rabbit.
The myxomatosis virus does not replicate in these insect hosts, but can be physically carried by an insect's mouthparts, i.e. from an infected rabbit to another susceptible animal.
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