Rinderpest Eradication: Appropriate Technology and Social Innovations

Abstract

Killer Eradication: Rinderpest is the second disease to be eradicated globally after smallpox. Mariner et al. (p. 1309 ) review the technical and social challenges that were overcome during the course of eradication. Key achievements were the development of a thermostable vaccine, the recruitment of the pastoralists themselves for training and administration of vaccine, and complete vaccination coverage, despite occasionally hazardous environmental and political conditions. Although these achievements offer important lessons for future human and animal health programs, institutional memories are surprisingly short-lived, and it is important to document these lessons for the next eradication campaign.