New!
Vacancy announcement for the PPR program.
Vacancy announcement for the PPR program.
- FAO Peste des Petits Ruminants Global Eradication Programme (PPR-GEP) Specialist (Several profiles): Closing Date: December 14, 2024, 7:59:00 AM
- IBAR Programme Expert – Disease Control and Management: Closing Date: December 27, 2024
Peste des Petits Ruminants - Outbreak in Europe 2024
On July 8, 2024 Greece reported its first case of PPR, a severe viral disease of sheep and goats. PPR has been targeted for eradication by 2030 by the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). On July 15, 2024 Romania also reported its first case of PPR. Since then there have been over 100 outbreaks in both countries. While PPR is endemic in over 60 countries in the world, these outbreaks in Europe mark only the 3rd time it has been seen in Europe, with the disease previously seen in Georgia (2016 and 2024) and Bulgaria (2018). Given the nature of animal movement within the EU, this is very concerning.
While the source of the outbreaks is still unknown, it is likely that a) the disease was first introduced to Romania likely by illegal movement of infected animals from an endemic country and b) the disease was then introduced to Greece from Romania - again by movement of infected animals. It is also very likely that the disease was firstly thought to be bluetongue and so diagnosis was delayed by one or more weeks which allowed for further spread. At this time, control and eradication measures are restrictions on movement of animals in zones around the regions where outbreaks are occurring and euthanasia of animals on affected premises, along with other biosecurity measures. While vaccination of unaffected animals is an option the country may use, this will delay moving the country to free-status.
Webinar Video on PPR Outbreak in Europe
On September 11, EU-FMD and the PPR Secretariat of WOAH & FAO, organized a webinar which give details of the outbreaks, recognition of PPR and diagnosis, and measures to eradicate. The recording (along with the powerpoint presentations) has been uploaded and is available for anybody to view. Please also feel free to share this link with others. https://trello.com/c/f5Xdfqum
How to Recognize PPR in Sick Animals
PPR usually presents as a very severe disease, usually affected youngstock more than adults and usually goats more than sheep. It affects more than one body system with the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems most affected. PPR virus is spread mostly by contact with infected sheep and goats, either before they become ill, while ill or up to 3 weeks after they have recovered. There is no carrier state. It can be transmitted within a short timeline by contaminated livestock vehicles and possibly equipment (e.g., shearing), clothing or hands. It is unlikely to be transmitted by feed. Cattle cannot transmit the virus. While some wildlife (ungulates) can become infected, they are unlikely to be a reservoir of infection.
The best detection method for PPR is to recognize potential clinical cases in the field. This means that producers, private veterinarians and anybody who serves the small ruminant industries should be aware of the likely clinical picture. This is termed "Syndromic Surveillance". PPR can be mistaken for many other diseases, e.g., pneumonic pasteurellosis, severe gastrointestinal parasitism, coccidiosis, bluetongue, orf (soremouth), and where present - sheep / goat pox, caprine contagious pleuropneumonia, foot and mouth disease. Below is a proposed case definition for pneumo-enteritis syndrome from Peter Roeder (an esteemed member of the team that eradicated Rinderpest). This was shared with me by Jeff Mariner, an epidemiologist consulting with FAO on PPR eradication.
PNEUMO-ENTERITIS (PES) CASE DEFINITION
An outbreak of PES is characterized as a number of disease cases in a flock (in exceptional cases, an individual animal) in which the following clinical signs are present:
Bilateral, clear or purulent ocular and nasal discharges
Together with:
High fever, coughing and sneezing
AND one or more of the following:
Other useful links that will help to understand PPR and its risk to small ruminants:
Peste des Petits Ruminant FAO which includes a description of the eradication programme: https://www.fao.org/ppr/en
WOAH PPR which includes links to diagnosis: https://www.woah.org/en/disease/peste-des-petits-ruminants/
WOAH WAHIS Events Manager. This is a searchable listing of all notifiable disease incidents. Filter by disease (Peste des Petits Ruminants) to get the latest update of PPR outbreaks in the world. https://wahis.woah.org/#/event-management
While the source of the outbreaks is still unknown, it is likely that a) the disease was first introduced to Romania likely by illegal movement of infected animals from an endemic country and b) the disease was then introduced to Greece from Romania - again by movement of infected animals. It is also very likely that the disease was firstly thought to be bluetongue and so diagnosis was delayed by one or more weeks which allowed for further spread. At this time, control and eradication measures are restrictions on movement of animals in zones around the regions where outbreaks are occurring and euthanasia of animals on affected premises, along with other biosecurity measures. While vaccination of unaffected animals is an option the country may use, this will delay moving the country to free-status.
Webinar Video on PPR Outbreak in Europe
On September 11, EU-FMD and the PPR Secretariat of WOAH & FAO, organized a webinar which give details of the outbreaks, recognition of PPR and diagnosis, and measures to eradicate. The recording (along with the powerpoint presentations) has been uploaded and is available for anybody to view. Please also feel free to share this link with others. https://trello.com/c/f5Xdfqum
How to Recognize PPR in Sick Animals
PPR usually presents as a very severe disease, usually affected youngstock more than adults and usually goats more than sheep. It affects more than one body system with the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems most affected. PPR virus is spread mostly by contact with infected sheep and goats, either before they become ill, while ill or up to 3 weeks after they have recovered. There is no carrier state. It can be transmitted within a short timeline by contaminated livestock vehicles and possibly equipment (e.g., shearing), clothing or hands. It is unlikely to be transmitted by feed. Cattle cannot transmit the virus. While some wildlife (ungulates) can become infected, they are unlikely to be a reservoir of infection.
The best detection method for PPR is to recognize potential clinical cases in the field. This means that producers, private veterinarians and anybody who serves the small ruminant industries should be aware of the likely clinical picture. This is termed "Syndromic Surveillance". PPR can be mistaken for many other diseases, e.g., pneumonic pasteurellosis, severe gastrointestinal parasitism, coccidiosis, bluetongue, orf (soremouth), and where present - sheep / goat pox, caprine contagious pleuropneumonia, foot and mouth disease. Below is a proposed case definition for pneumo-enteritis syndrome from Peter Roeder (an esteemed member of the team that eradicated Rinderpest). This was shared with me by Jeff Mariner, an epidemiologist consulting with FAO on PPR eradication.
PNEUMO-ENTERITIS (PES) CASE DEFINITION
An outbreak of PES is characterized as a number of disease cases in a flock (in exceptional cases, an individual animal) in which the following clinical signs are present:
Bilateral, clear or purulent ocular and nasal discharges
Together with:
High fever, coughing and sneezing
AND one or more of the following:
- conjunctivitis
- difficulty breathing (dyspnoea)
- erosions (ulcers) in the epithelium of the mouth with or without a cheese-like coating on the epithelium. Often halitosis is present.
- diarrhea / dysentery
- death
Other useful links that will help to understand PPR and its risk to small ruminants:
Peste des Petits Ruminant FAO which includes a description of the eradication programme: https://www.fao.org/ppr/en
WOAH PPR which includes links to diagnosis: https://www.woah.org/en/disease/peste-des-petits-ruminants/
WOAH WAHIS Events Manager. This is a searchable listing of all notifiable disease incidents. Filter by disease (Peste des Petits Ruminants) to get the latest update of PPR outbreaks in the world. https://wahis.woah.org/#/event-management