Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a disease of goats, sheep and closely related wild members of the family Bovidae, and is clinically and pathologically similar to the now extinct rinderpest.  In the areas where it occurs it is the most economically important virus disease that affects small ruminants. The chronological sequence of new reports of PPR points to the fact that the virus has spread steadily eastwards from its origin in West Africa, and more recently southwards on the continent of Africa.