Actualité de la peste bovine en Afrique [Conférence donnée le 25 mars 1985]

Rinderpest is certainly the most deadly of existing cattle diseases. Originating from Asia, the disease devastated European cattle during times of trouble, for example during wars, until its complete eradication at the end of the 19th century, with the exception of a short incursion in Belgium in 1920. Introduced in Africa during the same period, the disease still persists in this continent and recently its incidence has increased with devastating results. Rinderpest virus belongs to the Morbillivirus group, together with the viruses of measles, canine distemper and peste des petits ruminants. The virus is transmitted mainly by direct contagion and only cattle play the role of reservoir of infection. Several wild Artiodactyla species become infected by rinderpest virus, develop fatal disease and can play a role in its dissemination ; wildliving animals, however, do not seem to act as reservoir of the virus. Efforts at fighting against rinderpest should therefore be directed only towards domestic cattle ; the best weapon against the disease in African conditions is vaccination. An international vaccination campaign aiming at the eradication of the disease has been launched and will soon be on the way in Africa.