Peste des petits ruminants(PPR) is a highly contagious, acute- to - subacute viral disease primarily affecting domestic sheep and goats.It is one of the most important transboundary diseases of small ruminants because outbreaks can result in high morbidity, mortality and substantial socioeconomic losses. PPR is caused by Peste des petits ruminants virus(PPRV), an enveloped, negative- sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus, family Paramyxoviridae.The disease is characterized principally by fever, oculo - nasal discharge, erosive stomatitis, respiratory involvement, diarrhoea, dehydration and wasting.Severe disease is particularly associated with immunologically naïve and highly susceptible populations.
A highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants
Disease Overview
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects sheep and goats. The disease can spread rapidly within susceptible populations and may cause severe illness, production losses and high mortality, particularly in young and susceptible animals.
Key Point
Early detection, rapid reporting, vaccination and effective disease-control measures are essential to reduce PPR transmission and protect susceptible small ruminant populations.
Disease Intelligence
Select a question below to explore detailed information about the disease.
Clinical Presentation
Recognize the Signs
Follow the typical progression of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) — from initial exposure and incubation to clinical disease and transmission.
Key Takeaway
PPR can progress rapidly from exposure and incubation to fever, respiratory and oral lesions, diarrhoea and severe systemic disease. Early detection, prompt reporting, vaccination, movement control and effective biosecurity are important for reducing transmission and protecting susceptible sheep and goats.
Understand how PPR spreads between infected and susceptible sheep and goats, which transmission opportunities matter most and how animal movement, crowding and biosecurity can increase disease risk.
PPR virus spreads primarily through close contact between infected and susceptible sheep and goats. Infected animals shed PPRV through respiratory, nasal, ocular and oral secretions.
Infected sheep and goats are the principal source of PPR virus. Animals may spread PPRV before obvious clinical disease is recognised, creating opportunities for transmission within susceptible groups.
Crowding and mixing animals from different flocks increase the frequency of close contact and create more opportunities for virus-containing secretions to reach susceptible animals.
Movement of infected or incubating animals can introduce PPRV into previously unaffected farms, villages and regions. Livestock markets and collection centres can further amplify contact and onward spread.
Transmission Risk
PPR spreads mainly through close contact between infected and susceptible sheep and goats. Respiratory, nasal, ocular and oral secretions create opportunities for exposure, while animal movement, crowding, livestock markets and weak biosecurity can amplify transmission.
Key Intelligence
PPR spreads mainly through close contact between infected and susceptible sheep and goats. Animal movement, crowding, flock mixing and livestock markets can create additional opportunities for transmission, while low vaccination coverage and poor biosecurity can increase outbreak risk. Early detection, isolation, vaccination, movement management and strong farm biosecurity are central to PPR control.
Understand how PPR vaccines work, what vaccine types are used, how protection develops and which factors can influence vaccination success.
Most currently used PPR vaccines are live attenuated PPRV vaccines. The attenuated virus replicates sufficiently to stimulate the immune system without causing the severe disease associated with virulent PPRV.
The major vaccines used for the control of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) are mainly live-attenuated vaccines. The Nigeria 75/1 and Sungri/96 vaccines are the two most widely used vaccines in PPR control programmes.
PPRV has one recognized serotype but four genetic lineages (I, II, III and IV). These genetic differences do not represent separate serotypes. Studies have shown that current live-attenuated vaccines can provide broad protection across different PPRV lineages
Vaccine Performance
PPR vaccines are highly effective, and current live-attenuated vaccines provide broad protection against the recognized PPRV lineages. Therefore, PPR detected after vaccination should not automatically be interpreted as vaccine failure. Investigation should distinguish failure of the vaccine product from failure of vaccine delivery, inadequate immunity, or infection occurring before protective immunity developed.
Key Factors
Select a factor to explore its details.
Key Intelligence
PPR vaccination can provide strong protection when vaccines are properly stored, prepared and administered and when campaigns achieve adequate coverage. Effective PPR control also depends on surveillance, animal movement management, biosecurity and timely vaccination strategies.
Explore representative PPR field scenarios showing how vaccination coverage, cold-chain management, administration, animal factors and disease-control programmes can influence protection.
Explore Case Studies
Case Study Insight
Not the primary concern
Current evidence supports broad cross-lineage protection.
Critical
Cold-chain and vaccine handling can determine whether adequate vaccine potency reaches the animal.
Critical
Vaccination cannot reliably prevent disease from an infection that was already established before protective immunity developed.
Critical
A highly effective vaccine cannot eliminate transmission if large numbers of susceptible animals remain unvaccinated.
Important
Age, maternal antibodies, nutritional status and concurrent disease can influence immune responses.
Part 08 • Global Disease Surveillance
Explore the major PPR events that shaped modern prevention, control and eradication strategies.
Surveillance Dashboard
Global PPR Situation Overview
Global Disease Timeline
Key historical events that shaped the understanding, control and surveillance of PPR.
Explore Timeline
Surveillance Records
7 records shown
Global Intelligence
PPR outbreaks are strongly influenced by animal movement, susceptible livestock populations, regional connectivity, surveillance capacity and vaccination coverage. Sustained vaccination, population-level immunity, early detection and coordinated movement management are essential components of effective PPR control.
Track the latest developments in PPR outbreaks, vaccination, disease-control policy, eradication programmes and scientific research around the world.
Feed Status
Monitoring Active
Outbreak
WOAH's second GF-TADs Standing Group of Experts meeting for Europe reviewed the evolving PPR epidemiological situation and strengthened regional preparedness, surveillance and coordinated response. Illegal animal movements were highlighted as an important transmission risk.
Latest
WOAH's second GF-TADs Standing Group of Experts meeting for Europe reviewed the evolving PPR epidemiological situation and strengthened regional preparedness, surveillance and coordinated response. Illegal animal movements were highlighted as an important transmission risk.
FAO reported that India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal met in New Delhi from 21–23 April 2026 to strengthen coordinated PPR eradication efforts, including harmonised vaccination, surveillance and cross-border disease control.
The Gangetic regional workshop discussed harmonised vaccination strategies, including the use of the PPRV Lineage IV (Sungri strain) vaccine, alongside development of DIVA vaccines and thermo-tolerant formulations.
A 2026 Scientific Reports study evaluated PPR vaccination trends and operational challenges in Ethiopia, including factors influencing vaccination performance and eradication efforts.
FAO and WOAH continue to coordinate the global PPR eradication programme, with vaccination, surveillance, diagnostics, movement management and strengthened veterinary services forming important elements of the strategy.
Global PPR eradication efforts continue to emphasise early detection, laboratory diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, genetic information and coordinated reporting to support evidence-based disease control.
Intelligence Feed
News content should be connected to verified veterinary authorities, international organisations, research institutions and trusted disease-surveillance sources. Dates, countries, outbreak status and disease information should be refreshed when new verified updates become available.
Key facts and figures that explain how Peste des Petits Ruminants spreads, affects small ruminants and creates livestock production risks.
PPR is a highly contagious viral disease that can spread rapidly among susceptible sheep and goats, mainly through close contact and infectious respiratory and oral secretions.
Clinical signs commonly appear around 3–10 days after infection, although the incubation period can vary. For disease-control purposes, WOAH uses 21 days as the official incubation period.
PPR virus is classified into four recognised genetic lineages: Lineage I, Lineage II, Lineage III and Lineage IV.
Domestic sheep and goats are the principal epidemiologically important hosts of PPR. Other susceptible ruminants, including some wild species, can also be affected.
PPR can cause severe disease and high mortality in susceptible populations. Following introduction into a susceptible herd, very high infection rates and mortality can occur.
Transmission
PPR is highly contagious and spreads mainly through close contact between infected and susceptible sheep and goats. Respiratory secretions, nasal and ocular discharge, saliva and other infectious materials can facilitate transmission, particularly where animals are crowded or frequently moved.
Infected Animal
Respiratory Secretions
Close Contact
Animal Movement
New Host
Economic & Farm Impact
PPR can reduce feed intake, growth, weight gain, milk production and overall productivity in affected sheep and goat populations.
Severe PPR outbreaks can cause substantial illness and mortality, particularly among young and susceptible animals.
Animal deaths, reduced production, treatment, vaccination and disease-control measures can create significant financial losses for farmers and livestock-dependent communities.
PPR outbreaks can lead to animal movement restrictions, disrupt livestock markets and affect regional livestock production and trade.
Disease Drivers
PPR transmission is influenced by close animal contact, respiratory exposure, animal movement, population density, livestock markets, gatherings and gaps in farm-level biosecurity.
Close contact between infected and susceptible sheep and goats is a major route of PPR transmission.
Movement of infected, exposed or incubating animals can introduce PPRV into previously unaffected areas.
High animal density and crowding increase opportunities for close contact and transmission among susceptible animals.
Livestock markets, gatherings and shared transport can bring animals from different locations into close contact and increase transmission opportunities.
Gaps in animal isolation, hygiene, equipment management and movement control can increase the risk of PPR introduction and spread.
Close contact between infected and susceptible sheep or goats facilitates PPR transmission through infectious respiratory, nasal, ocular and oral secretions.
Movement of infected or incubating animals can introduce PPRV into previously unaffected farms, markets and regions.
Animal isolation, hygiene, movement management, equipment control and appropriate farm biosecurity can help reduce PPR introduction and spread.
PPR can spread quickly among susceptible sheep and goats, making early detection and rapid control measures essential.
High vaccination coverage, correct vaccine handling and effective disease surveillance are important components of PPR prevention and control.
PPR can cause severe clinical disease, mortality, reduced productivity, livestock movement restrictions and significant economic losses.
Numerical ranges shown here are general disease-intelligence indicators. Clinical onset, incubation, transmission efficiency, disease severity and mortality can vary with animal age, immune status, virus characteristics, population susceptibility and epidemiological conditions.
Explore scientific literature, international surveillance, technical reports and research evidence related to Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
Evidence Base
Peer-reviewed research provides evidence on PPR virus biology, epidemiology, genetic diversity, vaccines, diagnostics and disease control.
International organisations provide structured surveillance, outbreak information, epidemiological data and progress towards PPR control and eradication.
Technical reports translate surveillance findings and scientific evidence into practical vaccination, prevention and disease-control strategies.
Kumar N, Maherchandani S, Kashyap SK, et al.
Viruses. 2014; 6(6):2287–2327.
A comprehensive review covering PPR disease overview, pathogenesis, transmission, clinical signs, diagnosis, epidemiology and vaccination.
Disease overview • Pathogenesis • Transmission • Clinical signs • Diagnosis • Epidemiology • Vaccination
Balamurugan V, Hemadri D, Gajendragad MR, Singh RK, Rahman H.
VirusDisease. 2014; 25(1):39–56.
Reviews diagnostic approaches, epidemiology, disease control, vaccination and outbreak management for PPR.
Diagnosis • Epidemiology • Disease control • Vaccination • Outbreak management
Sen A, Saravanan P, Balamurugan V, et al.
Expert Review of Vaccines. 2010; 9(7):785–796.
DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.74
Reviews available PPR vaccine approaches, vaccine efficacy, immune responses and developments in vaccine technology.
Vaccine types • Vaccine efficacy • Immune response • Vaccine development
Kumar N, Barua S, Riyesh T, Tripathi BN.
Veterinary Microbiology. 2017; 206:91–101.
Discusses advances in PPR vaccine development, including live-attenuated, recombinant and thermostable vaccine approaches.
Live-attenuated vaccines • Recombinant vaccines • Thermostability • DIVA approaches • Vaccine limitations
Fan X, et al.
Microbial Pathogenesis. 2020; 143:104045.
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104045
Reviews conventional, homologous and recombinant vaccine approaches and future strategies for PPR prevention.
Conventional vaccines • Homologous vaccines • Recombinant vaccine development • Future vaccine strategies
Singh RP, Bandyopadhyay SK.
VirusDisease. 2015; 26(4):215–224.
DOI: 10.1007/s13337-015-0281-9
Documents India's experience with PPR mass vaccination, field effectiveness, surveillance and national vaccination programmes.
India • Mass vaccination • Field effectiveness • Vaccination programmes • Outbreak reduction
The study reported more than 90% reduction in reported outbreaks in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and more than 75% reduction nationally during the period evaluated.
FAO & WOAH
Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR. 2015.
A foundational international strategy establishing the framework for global PPR control and eradication.
Global eradication strategy • Vaccination • Surveillance • Epidemiological assessment • Progressive control • Eradication framework
FAO
PPR Global Eradication Programme.
The PPR-GEP provides an implementation framework supporting the global strategy and the objective of PPR eradication.
Global programme • Eradication pathway • Country implementation • Surveillance • Vaccination
FAO
PPR Background and Global Impact.
Provides background information on PPR distribution, global disease burden and the importance of small ruminants to rural livelihoods.
Global distribution • PPR burden • Small-ruminant populations • Livelihood impact • Eradication
FAO information highlights approximately 1.7 billion sheep and goats at risk and around 300 million rural families whose livelihoods are linked to these animals.
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
Chapter 14.7 — Infection with Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus.
A primary technical reference covering susceptible species, definitions of PPR infection, epidemiological requirements, surveillance, disease status and control considerations.
Susceptible species • PPR infection definition • Epidemiology • Surveillance • International disease status • Control and eradication
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
Peste des Petits Ruminants — Infection with PPRV.
Technical guidance covering laboratory diagnosis, sample collection, virus detection, serology, surveillance and vaccine-related diagnostic considerations.
Laboratory diagnosis • Sample collection • Virus detection • Serology • Surveillance • Vaccine-related diagnostics
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
PPR Wildlife Guidelines. 2021.
Provides guidance on PPR surveillance and control at the wildlife–livestock interface and considers susceptible wild ruminant populations.
Wildlife surveillance • Wildlife–livestock interface • Susceptible wild ruminants • Spillover risk • Eradication planning
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
WOAH PPR Technical and Surveillance Resources.
WOAH provides international surveillance and disease-status information through its PPR technical resources, including the Terrestrial Code, Terrestrial Manual and official disease-status framework.
Disease surveillance • Outbreak reporting • Disease status • Epidemiology • Geographic distribution
Singh RP, Bandyopadhyay SK.
Peste des petits ruminants vaccine and vaccination in India: sharing experience with disease endemic countries.
India-specific evidence documenting mass vaccination, vaccine deployment, PPR surveillance, disease reduction and national control strategy.
Mass vaccination • Vaccine deployment • PPR surveillance • Disease reduction • National control strategy
International PPR Technical Evidence
Technical and epidemiological evidence on PPR.
Disease reports assess the effects of PPR on small-ruminant health, production, farmer livelihoods, animal movement and livestock-dependent economies.
Epidemiology • Production losses • Farmer livelihoods • Animal movement • Economic impact
Scientific Research Literature
Molecular and epidemiological research on PPR virus.
Molecular surveillance helps identify the four recognised PPR virus genetic lineages and monitor their geographic distribution and epidemiological significance.
Genetic diversity • Molecular surveillance • Lineage identification • Geographic distribution • Epidemiology
Evidence Framework
Different evidence sources answer different questions. Scientific studies help explain disease mechanisms, while surveillance data and official reports provide information about disease occurrence, distribution and control.
PPR biology, epidemiology, vaccines, diagnostics and genetic diversity
Outbreaks, genetic lineages and geographic disease activity
PPR prevention, vaccination, surveillance and eradication recommendations
Real-world observations, outbreak investigations and operational experience
Reliable PPR intelligence should be based on traceable, scientifically credible and appropriately interpreted sources.
Research summaries should always be linked to the original publication, official surveillance record or technical report. Evidence strength indicates the quality and relevance of the available evidence and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of vaccine or treatment effectiveness.