Myxomatosis (sometimes shortened to myxi or myxo) is a disease which affects rabbits and is caused by the Myxoma virus. First observed in Uruguay in the late 1800s, it was introduced illegally into Egypt in 1842, and as a result, spread throughout the rest of Africa. It was introduced into Australia in 1950 in an attempt to control the rabbit infestation and population (See: Rabbits in Australia). It was also introduced in the UK to try to reduce the rabbit population after World War II.