Rinderpest Catastrophe

The devastating impact of rinderpest in East Africa led to the loss of vast numbers of livestock and wildlife, contributing to an extreme famine and a smallpox epidemic. With death tolls soaring, estimates suggest that up to two-thirds of the population in some areas perished. Efforts to combat the disease, including the development of a vaccine, were hindered by the timing and severity of the outbreak, highlighting the urgent need for veterinary education that arose from this crisis.