Cryptic Invasion and Transmission Dynamics of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus, Europe, 2024–2026
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: 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.
Source: Emerging infectious diseases
Authors: Claire Guinat, Samia Guendouz, Olivier Kwiatek, Eva Connilhere, Antoni Exbrayat, Aikaterini Kirtzalidou, Maria Gianniou, Corina Ancuceanu, Mona Ghiță, Anna Zdravkova, Iliyan Kostov, Emilia Ivanova, Florica Bărbuceanu, Konstantia E. Tasioudi, Peter Malik, Adrienn Örkényi, Erga Shkodra, Armend Cana, Ivana Lojkić, Andreja Jungić, Antun Beljan, Marina Prišlin-Šimac, Dragan Brnić, Ljupka Maltar, Žaklin Acinger-Rogić, Martina Rubin, Ivana Lohman Janković, Michaela Stätter, Daniel Polzer, Susanne Koethe, Arnaud Bataille
Language: English
Topic: Virology and Viral Diseases
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225313167