Morbillivirus Group

We are sad to inform you of the sudden and sad loss of Professor Tom Barrett. Please contact Dr Michael Baron for matters concerning morbillivirus research or Dr Chris Oura for matters concerning morbillivirus diagnosis.

The Morbillivirus Group at the Institute for Animal Health carries out research on viruses in the genus Morbillivirus , an antigenically related group of viruses in the family Paramyxoviridae.

The Morbillivirus genus includes human measles virus but it also includes important animal pathogens such as rinderpest virus and pest des petits ruminants.

Rinderpest virus is responsible for a devastating plague in cattle, buffalo and wild cloven-footed animals, and a similar plague in small ruminants caused by peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus. PPRV affects mainly sheep and goats but wildlife species such as gazelle are also highly susceptible.

Rindepest and PPRV

Both viruses cause serious disease in their respective hosts, and the economic consequences of outbreaks of rinderpest and PPR viruses in domestic livestock can be devastating.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) expect to announce in 2010 or shortly thereafter that rinderpest has been eradicated from the globe.

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