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Peste des petits ruminants

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), also known as sheep and goat plague, is a highly contagious animal disease affecting small ruminants.

Once introduced, the virus can infect up to 90 percent of an animal heard, and the disease kills anywhere from 30 to 70 percent of infected animals. The PPR virus does not infect humans.

PPR was first described in 1942 in Côte d'Ivoire. Since then the disease has spread to large regions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Today, more than 70 countries have confirmed PPR within their borders, and many countries are at risk of the disease being introduced. These regions are home to approximately 1.7 billion heads – roughly 80 percent – of the global population of sheep and goats.
Why eradicate the disease?
Strengthening resilience and national economies

Sheep and goats are moveable assets that can be relocated in times of climate stress or volatile security situations.

Ensuring food security and nutrition

Eradicating PPR tackles food insecurity and malnutrition, resulting in a lasting positive impact on the nutritional status of some of the most vulnerable populations.  

Fighting rural poverty

The eradication of PPR will preserve the income and asset base of 300 million rural families. Sheep and goats are a source of regular income, a means to capitalize saving and a safety net to face hard times.

Key facts

Sheep and goats are two of the major livestock species kept and cared for by many of the world’s poor.

PPR threatens about 80 percent of the global small ruminant population of nearly 2 billion animals.

PPR was first described in 1942 in Côte d'Ivoire. 

PPR has been confirmed in over 70 countries in large areas of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and is now spreading to new countries.

Latest news
Publications
Overview of the plan of action: Peste des Petits Ruminants Global Eradication Programme II & III.  Blueprint long version
09/11/2026

This publication presents the Blueprint for the second and third phases of the Peste des Petits Ruminants Global Eradication Programme (PPR GEP II &...

Identification of episystems for targeting and managing peste des petits ruminants
12/08/2026

The successful eradication of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and the control of small ruminant diseases (SRD) depends on achieving and sustaining...

Videos
Video
Working together to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants
11/08/2020

This video explains what Peste des Petits Ruminants is, how it affects sheep and goats, its potential impact on farmers’ livelihoods and incomes, and...

Video
FAO Animal Health Vaccination Campaign Against PPR in Syria
28/07/2020

Animal health is critical for access to food, and to sustain vulnerable livestock herders’ means of earning a living. However, contagious diseases are...

Video
Control of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in rural Pakistan
01/10/2019

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) has severe negative socio-economic impacts on the income of livestock farmers and, in particular, the livelihoods and...

Video
Global Programme for the Control & Eradication of Pest des petits ruminants (Sheep & Goat Plague)
01/02/2018

The video describes the threat represented by the Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) or Sheep and Goat Plague to food security, livelihoods and economic...

Video
Imagine losing everything in a moment and #migration was your only choice…
01/01/2018

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) or sheep and goat plague is a highly contagious animal disease affecting small ruminants. An estimated 300 million...

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