Small Ruminant Rinderpest: Detection, Control and Eradication

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious, and fatal viral disease of domestic and wild small ruminants caused by a morbillivirus belongs to family paramyxoviridae. It is characterized by the sudden onset of depression, fever, discharges from the eyes and nose, sores in the mouth, disturbed breathing and cough, foul-smelling diarrhoea and death. PPR is one of the most damaging livestock diseases with significant economic, food security and livelihood impacts. Since it was first identified in Côte d’Ivoire in 1942, the geographical distribution of PPR has steadily expanded to cover large regions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Currently around 70 countries have reported infection to the OIE or are suspected to be infected and another 50 are considered at risk for PPR. Out of these infected countries, more than 60% are in Africa (including North Africa) the other infected countries being in Asia. It is estimated that 330 million of the poorest people in Africa, the Middle East and Asia keep livestock, including small ruminants. Sheep and goats play an important role in the livelihoods and food security of poor families and contribute to national economic development. FAO/OIE Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF- TADs) has developed PPR Global Control and Eradication Programme (PPR-GEP). This programme is officially and solemnly launched in the PPR Global Strategy at the International Conference in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) at 2 April 2015 with the vision of a world free of PPR by 2030. The overall objective of the Global Strategy is the improvement of small ruminant sector contributing to global food security and nutrition, human health and economic growth, particularly in developing countries, thereby alleviating poverty, increasing income generation and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and general human wellbeing. The specific objectives of the Global Strategy are the eradication of PPR by 2030, while at the same time, through reinforcing VS, improving animal health globally by reducing the impact of other major infectious diseases. The global PPR eradication and Eradication Strategy (GCES) is based on four stages: Assessment stage, Control stage, Eradication stage and Post eradication stage. Thesefour stages combine decreasing levels of epidemiological risk with increasing levels of prevention and control. At Stage 1 the epidemiological situation is assessed. At Stage 2and 3 vaccination are implemented. At Stage 4 vaccination must be suspended; the country must provide evidence that no virus is circulating at zonal or national level and that it is ready to apply for official OIE PPR-free status. Regardless of the stage in which a country initially places itself, sufficient capacity should be achieved relative to five technical elements so that the country can move with confidence to the next stage of control and eradication. The One of these key elements is PPR Diagnostic system(s). The effective control of PPR requires the reliable laboratory diagnostic services .