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== Introduction ==

== Introduction ==

Rinderpest ('''RV''') was an acute to subacute contagious viral disease of ruminants and pigs that could cause morbidity and mortality rates in excess of ninety per cent, though inapparent infections did also occur. The disease wass characterized by necrosis and erosions in the gastrointestinal tract that resulted in severe diarrhoea and dehydration. It was caused by a [[:Category:Morbilliviruses|morbillivirus]], a member of a group of enveloped viruses forming a separate genus within the family [[:Category:Paramyxoviridae|Paramyxoviridae]]. Viruses in this genus included rinderpest virus (RPV) infecting cattle and other large ruminants, [[Peste des Petits Ruminants|peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV)]] infecting sheep and goats, [[Canine Distemper Virus|canine distemper virus (CDV)]] which infects carnivores, human measles virus (MV), and other members in marine mammals. Members of the genus are closely related antigenically and are distinguished from the other paramyxoviruses by their lack of neuraminidase activity.

Rinderpest ('''RV''') was an acute to subacute contagious viral disease of ruminants and pigs that could cause morbidity and mortality rates in excess of ninety per cent, though inapparent infections did also occur. The disease was characterized by necrosis and erosions in the gastrointestinal tract that resulted in severe diarrhoea and dehydration. It was caused by a [[:Category:Morbilliviruses|morbillivirus]], a member of a group of enveloped viruses forming a separate genus within the family [[:Category:Paramyxoviridae|Paramyxoviridae]]. Viruses in this genus included rinderpest virus (RPV) infecting cattle and other large ruminants, [[Peste des Petits Ruminants|peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV)]] infecting sheep and goats, [[Canine Distemper Virus|canine distemper virus (CDV)]] which infects carnivores, human measles virus (MV), and other members in marine mammals. Members of the genus are closely related antigenically and are distinguished from the other paramyxoviruses by their lack of neuraminidase activity.

In terms of economic losses in domestic animals, rinderpest was the most important member of the group. It was eradicated from the UK in 1877, but continued to be endemic in Africa and Asia until very recently. It was present in Sudan and Somalia until the 1994 [http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/grep/home.html Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP)] succeeded in its goal in 2011.

In terms of economic losses in domestic animals, rinderpest was the most important member of the group. It was eradicated from the UK in 1877, but continued to be endemic in Africa and Asia until very recently. It was present in Sudan and Somalia until the 1994 [http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/grep/home.html Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP)] succeeded in its goal in 2011.