Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) disease has spread in southeastern Europe since July 2024. Virus sequence analyses and field investigations covering 7 countries affected through January 2026 suggest that eastern Romania was the point of introduction and source of regional viral dissemination in the region. Cross-border transmission inferred from genetic data was strongly associated with official records of live animal trade; outbreak investigations indicate additional roles for illegal trade and indirect transmission. Important temporal gaps in the phylogeny suggest that PPR virus has been circulating undetected in multiple areas in southeastern Europe, as noted by the high variability of clinical signs in infected animals. Those findings highlight a real risk for continued spread across Europe. Increased awareness of the difficulty in detecting the disease, coordinated cross-border surveillance, timely data sharing, and integrated control measures are needed to stop the spread of PPR into Europe.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Guinat et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: