The Opportunity To Eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Disease Eradication Programs
• Animal Health Economics

Background:

• Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious disease impacting small ruminants globally.
• PPR shares epidemiological and control similarities with rinderpest (RP), the only animal disease eradicated to date.
• PPR significantly hinders small ruminant production in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline an evolving global strategy for Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) eradication.
• To leverage lessons learned from successful eradication programs in animal and human health.
• To present a cost-benefit analysis for a proposed PPR eradication program.

Main Methods:

• Summarized the global PPR situation and available control technologies.
• Integrated epidemiology, social science, and economics to inform vaccination strategies.
• Conducted a cost and benefit-cost analysis of the proposed eradication program.

Main Results:

• Estimated the total undiscounted cost for global PPR eradication at $3.1 billion.
• Calculated a benefit-cost ratio of 33.8 for the most likely eradication scenario.
• Identified key opportunities and challenges for PPR eradication.

Conclusions:

• PPR eradication is feasible, drawing parallels with rinderpest eradication success.
• An integrated strategy incorporating epidemiological, social, and economic factors is crucial.
• The estimated benefit-cost ratio suggests a highly favorable return on investment for PPR eradication.