Deadly cattle plague, once the bane of farmers, on its deathbed
Sometime soon, rinderpest will officially be declared extinct, marking the first time mankind has ever eradicated an animal disease
In animal health circles, it's the equivalent of the Apollo 11 moon landing: some time in the next 18 months, FAO jointly with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other partners will officially declare one of the most devastating animal diseases known to man, rinderpest, as eradicated. It will be the first time in history that humankind has succeeded in killing off an animal disease and only the second time a disease has been consigned to the dustbin as a result of human efforts. (The first was smallpox, in 1980.) [...]
Publications
FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines No. 2: Preparation of National Strategies and Action Plans for Animal Genetic Resources 
FAO Animal Production and Health Manual no. 3 revised edition: Preparing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza AGA in action
- Pathways to Success: Brucellosis Control Programme in Tajikistan
- The Food and Agriculture Organization is promoting control measures to reduce the prevalence of brucellosis in Tajikistan and limit its spread within and across Central Asia and the Caucasus... [read more]