Peste des petits ruminants (PPR): developing a pan African strategy for disease control

This project will develop appropriate and proven PPR vaccination strategies that can form the basis of sustained PPR control in developing countries. The project team are developing an effective protocol for a thermostable PPR vaccine for transfer to African vaccine manufacturers, potentially impacting millions of smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.  A vaccine currently exists for PPR; however this vaccine requires cold storage which is a major constraint for use in Africa.  It is often impossible to keep vaccines cold when travelling large distances in rural areas; and electricity failures even in urban areas means use of the current vaccine constrains control activities.

  The project will go beyond technology development to identify and test components of new institutional models for delivering effective PPR control services to small ruminant producers in two locations in Eastern Africa.  This activity is essential to assuring that the technology developments of the project lead to impact that benefits farmers. This activity will be completed in close collaboration with international and national animal health authorities to assure strong ownership of the results. The process will start with design of vaccination programs fit to specific epidemiological goals. The project will then work with national authorities to see the programs implemented and to assess the effectiveness and impact of the approaches.