FAO, WOAH urge stronger global action to eradicate peste des petits ruminants by 2030

GLOBAL – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have renewed their call for coordinated global action to eradicate peste des petits ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep, goats, and wild ruminants, by 2030.

Despite a decade of progress under the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy (PPR GCES), both organisations warn that significant gaps remain in the fight to eliminate the disease, which continues to devastate livestock and livelihoods in vulnerable communities.

PPR, often referred to as “goat plague,” has a mortality rate of up to 100% in naïve animal populations, making it one of the most destructive diseases in small ruminants. 

Since its discovery in 1942, the disease has spread to more than 70 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, becoming entrenched in many regions. 

Economic losses linked to PPR are estimated at over US$2.1 billion annually, affecting more than 330 million people who depend on small ruminants for food, income, and stability.

“The continued spread of PPR into new regions and its entrenchment in endemic areas, exacerbated by limited access to veterinary services for marginalised communities, remain massive challenges to eliminating the disease,” the organisations stated. 

“Overcoming these barriers is essential to achieving PPR eradication, safeguarding livelihoods, and strengthening food security for some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.”

Progress and remaining challenges

The successful eradication of rinderpest in 2011 inspired global veterinary leaders to target PPR as the next disease for global elimination. In 2015, FAO and WOAH launched the PPR GCES, setting a 2030 deadline for eradication. 

Over the past decade, countries and partners have implemented multiple initiatives, including the Sahel Regional Project Supporting Pastoralism (PRAPS), the EU-supported PPR projects, and the Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of PPR and Control of Other Priority Small Ruminant Diseases.

While these programmes have achieved measurable progress, from vaccination campaigns to improved surveillance, both FAO and WOAH emphasise that more needs to be done. 

The lack of consistent funding, weak veterinary infrastructure, and inadequate political commitment have slowed eradication efforts, especially in areas where smallholder and pastoralist communities are hardest hit.

Building resilience through collaboration

“Small ruminants are often the most critical, and sometimes the only asset that vulnerable populations rely on for survival,” the joint statement noted. 

Eradicating PPR, they added, would unlock economic opportunities in national and international trade, empower women and youth, and foster stability in rural economies.

The organisations stress that eradication will require sustained investment in veterinary services, vaccine production, diagnostics, and awareness campaigns. 

Success also depends on the creation of national funding mechanisms, supportive policies, and strengthened animal health systems.

“To succeed, eradication efforts must follow a well-designed, coordinated strategy, supported by strong infrastructure as well as investment in the veterinary workforce,” FAO and WOAH said. 

“Together, we can protect livestock industries and safeguard the livelihoods of those who depend on them.”

With five years remaining to meet the 2030 target, the call from FAO and WOAH serves as a critical reminder that PPR eradication is not only possible but essential for the resilience and prosperity of millions across the globe.

Subscribe to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world. SUBSCRIBE HERE