Source: PIB
Context: India’s ICAR-NIHSAD, Bhopal has been designated as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility (RHF) by World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during the 92nd WOAH General Session in Paris.
About Rinderpest Virus:
- What is Rinderpest?
- Rinderpest (also called Cattle Plague) was a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle and other ruminants.
- It belongs to the Morbillivirus genus, related to measles and canine distemper viruses.
- The disease had 100% morbidity and up to 90% mortality, making it a major livestock killer historically.
- Transmission & Vector:
- Spread via direct contact, contaminated water, and aerosols from infected animals.
- No insect vector and transmission is strictly animal-to-animal.
- Clinical Features:
- Symptoms include high fever, nasal discharge, oral erosions, severe diarrhoea, and death within 10–15 days.
- No known zoonotic risk to humans.
- Impact on Livestock and Economy:
- Led to massive cattle deaths, causing famine, rural poverty, and economic collapse in agrarian societies.
- Disrupted milk, meat, and manure supply — critical for rural livelihoods.
- Global Eradication:
- Rinderpest became the second disease ever eradicated (after smallpox).
- Declared globally eradicated by FAO-WOAH in 2011 after a century-long effort.
- India’s Recent Achievement:
- ICAR-NIHSAD Bhopal is now a WOAH–FAO Category A RHF, securing India’s role in RVCM containment.
- Recognised for robust biosafety, inventory control, and emergency readiness.
- Relevance of Category A RHF Status:
- Ensures India can safely store Rinderpest Virus-Containing Material (RVCM).
- Prevents accidental re-emergence of the disease through global surveillance.
- Lays the foundation for India’s future application to Category B status, allowing vaccine development.
