Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is one of the great plagues which continue to devastate cattle herds on which so many people are dependent in Africa. In recent years the disease has emerged from areas where it has been persisting in endemic form to reinvade others from which it had previously been eradicated. In addition to these newly-infected areas, even the endemic areas are experienci
ng an upsurge in the incidence of CBPP. Recent dramatic events confirm that early recognition of the disease after its introduction or reintroduction to a country, or previously free zone of an infected country, is essential if control and elimination is to be achieved rapidly. Only if the introduction is detected rapidly can stamping out by slaughter of infected herds, undoubtedly the most cost-effective option in the long term, be considered an affordable strategy for many countries. Because of the nature of the disease any delay can result in widespread dispersal of infection complicating and greatly increasing the costs of any control measures adopted. Vigilance is required whether it be at the national or district level to ensure that the disease does not escape detection. This manual presents the most important features of CBPP to enable the disease to be recognised both by clinical and post-mortem examination. It is intended for use by all veterinary and paraveterinary staff in the front line of defence against the disease and also to assist in informing farmers of the risk.
