"Rinderpest Surveillance in Uganda National Parks"

Chris Rutebarika

Rinderpest still poses a potential threat to both the wild and domestic ungulates in eastern Africa. In Uganda, there is a very close association between livestock and wildlife. Vaccination against rinderpest in livestock ceased in 2001. Since the wildlife has never been vaccinated, serosurveillance in this ecosystem to determine the activity and the distribution of the virus is a very useful tool being used by the member states under PACE programmes.

In addition, passive data is collected on a regular basis by the staff of Uganda Wildlife Authority and local government veterinary services. “Suspected outbreaks” and rumours in both livestock and wildlife are investigated fully.

The rinderpest high-risk areas are located in the eastern and northeastern parts of Uganda, and the data collected from wildlife surveillance will augment data from livestock surveillance and support the implementation of the OIE pathway.

Understanding the circulation and distribution of rinderpest virus in wildlife is an essential component of rinderpest eradication and wildlife conservation programmes in Uganda.