The discovery of horned rabbits in the 1930s led to the realization that these peculiar creatures were actually suffering from cancerous growths caused by a papillomavirus. This connection not only sheds light on the origins of the jackalope myth but also paves the way for understanding the link between viruses and human cancers, particularly cervical cancer. As life expectancy has increased, the incidence of cervical cancer has risen, highlighting the long-term effects of viral infections on health.
