The principles and practice of rinderpest eradication

Rinderpest can be controlled by interrupting its transmission. This objective can be achieved by implementing zoo sanitary controls to eliminate or reduce the excretion of virus or by the use of vaccine to prevent the infection of fresh hosts. For success in the eradication of rinderpest these two techniques must be combined and used within time-bound campaign frameworks. The tools required for implementing rinderpest eradication are legal powers to declare farms to be infected premises and their surroundings to be infected areas, along with a cheap and efficacious vaccine. Finally, before embarking on rinderpest eradication an epidemiologically valid strategy must be adopted, financed and placed under competent management.