Peste des petits ruminants (PPR, also known as sheep and goat plague) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting goats, sheep, camels and wild ruminants. With a mortality rate of up to 90 %, the disease causes severe economic losses, threatening food security and livelihoods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates annual global losses to stand at €1.3 billion to €2 billion. Since its first occurrence in Bulgaria in 2018, PPR has caused significant losses in Greece, Romania and, more recently, Albania. To address this worrisome situation, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the FAO launched a strategy aimed at eradicating the disease by 2030. The strategy, which was officially launched in 2015 and endorsed by 70 countries, integrates vaccination, diagnostics and veterinary system strengthening. While live-attenuated vaccines (vaccines using weakened live disease-causing pathogens) are available and offer three or more years of protection, it is not possible to serologically distinguish vaccinated from infected animals, which is a crucial difference in eradication strategies. PPR has profound economic and trade impacts, and recent outbreaks within the European Union (EU) have underscored the urgency of transboundary disease management. Effective collaboration between global and EU frameworks, alongside community engagement and innovation, remains critical to achieving PPR eradication and safeguarding smallholder livelihoods. The European Parliament has been advocating for robust policies to address animal health threats.
O artigo foi publicado originalmente em Think Tank – Parlamento Europeu.