Tropical Medicine & Surgery

Abstract

Eradication of Infectious Diseases

Massimo Giangaspero

Rinderpest, important disease affecting zootechnics, especially in Africa, was officially declared worldwide eradicated in 2011 by the World Organization for Animal Health (Office International des Épizooties: OIE). This is the first disease of veterinary medicine interest that has been eradicated. To date, smallpox is the only one eradicated infectious disease that affects humans. Measles, genetically related to rinderpest, shows epidemiological characteristics such as no asymptomatic carrier state, no arthropod vector, no known reservoirs outside of humans and availability of vaccines, thus supporting the potential for successful eradication strategies.