Myxomatosis Flare Up In Wrexham Park

Visitors at a Wrexham park are being advised to contact the local park ranger if they find the body of a rabbit in the park, following a recent flare up of Myxomatosis.

A number of rabbits at the Alyn Waters Country Park have recently been infected by Myxomatosis, a deadly disease that can spread rapidly between rabbits.

Chris Wright contacted Wrexham.com regarding the flare up of myxomatosis at Alyn Waters when he and his daughter recently found several rabbits affected by the condition.

Chris told Wrexham.com: “It was quite surprising to see several rabbits with quite bad symptoms. My little girl who is four managed to walk right up to it and it was quite deformed from the disease and totally blind.

“I’ve lived in Bradley for years but I’ve never seen it this bad. It can’t pass to other animals but is distressing for people who see it and terrible for the rabbits.”

Myxomatosis is a disease that specifically affects wild rabbits and is spread by parasites, such as mosquitoes and fleas. Once contracted the illness affects areas such as a rabbit’s eyes and nose, causing swelling and ulceration.

A vaccine is available for domestic rabbits to help prevent them from catching the disease, however in wild rabbits the disease can kill them within two weeks of contracting the disease.

The disease cannot be passed from an infected rabbit to humans or other animals, however it can be upsetting to see a rabbit with the condition.

A spokesperson for Wrexham Council said: “Myxomatosis is endemic in the rabbit population across the country and every now and again it does flare up. There is, unfortunately, nothing that can be done about this. If visitors to the park come across a body of a rabbit on a path or other public area, they should contact the park ranger.”