In the 1890s, an epizootic of the rinderpest virus struck Africa, considered to be "the most devastating epidemic to hit southern Africa in the late nineteenth century".[1] It killed more than 5.2 million cattle south of the Zambezi,[2] as well as domestic oxen, sheep, and goats, and wild populations of buffalo, giraffe, and wildebeest. This led to starvation resulting in the death of an estimated third of the human population of Ethiopia and two-thirds of the Maasai people of Tanzania.[3]
Cattle dead from rinderpest in South Africa, 1896
The famine significantly depopulated sub-Saharan Africa, allowing thornbush to colonise. This formed ideal habitat for tsetse fly, which carries sleeping sickness, and is unsuitable for livestock.[4]
The virus is thought to have been introduced into Eritrea in 1887 by Indian cattle brought by the Italians for their campaign against Somalia. It spread throughout the Horn of Africa, and crossed the Zambezi in March 1896.[1]
Sir Arnold Theiler was instrumental in developing a vaccine that curbed the epizootic.[5]: 300
Referencesedit
^ abPhoofolo, Pule (February 1993). "Epidemics and Revolutions: The Rinderpest Epidemic in Late Nineteenth-Century Southern Africa". Past & Present. 138 (1): 112–143. doi:10.1093/past/138.1.112.
^Van den Bossche, Peter; de La Rocque, Stéphane; Hendrickx, Guy; Bouyer, Jérémy (May 2010). "A changing environment and the epidemiology of tsetse-transmitted livestock trypanosomiasis". Trends in Parasitology. 26 (5): 236–243. doi:10.1016/j.pt.2010.02.010. PMID 20304707.
^Normile, Dennis (March 2008). "Driven to Extinction". Science. 319 (5870): 1606–9. doi:10.1126/science.319.5870.1606. PMID 18356500. S2CID 46157093.
^Pearce, Fred (12 August 2000). "Inventing Africa" (PDF). New Scientist. 167 (2251): 30.
^Joyce, Peter (1989). The South African family encyclopaedia. Internet Archive. Cape Town : Struik Publishers. ISBN978-0-86977-887-6.
Further readingedit
Sunseri, Thaddeus (2018-04-26). "The African Rinderpest Panzootic, 1888–1897". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.013.375. ISBN978-0-19-027773-4.
This African history–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
1890s, african, rinderpest, epizootic, 1890s, epizootic, rinderpest, virus, struck, africa, considered, most, devastating, epidemic, southern, africa, late, nineteenth, century, killed, more, than, million, cattle, south, zambezi, well, domestic, oxen, sheep, . In the 1890s an epizootic of the rinderpest virus struck Africa considered to be the most devastating epidemic to hit southern Africa in the late nineteenth century 1 It killed more than 5 2 million cattle south of the Zambezi 2 as well as domestic oxen sheep and goats and wild populations of buffalo giraffe and wildebeest This led to starvation resulting in the death of an estimated third of the human population of Ethiopia and two thirds of the Maasai people of Tanzania 3 Cattle dead from rinderpest in South Africa 1896The famine significantly depopulated sub Saharan Africa allowing thornbush to colonise This formed ideal habitat for tsetse fly which carries sleeping sickness and is unsuitable for livestock 4 The virus is thought to have been introduced into Eritrea in 1887 by Indian cattle brought by the Italians for their campaign against Somalia It spread throughout the Horn of Africa and crossed the Zambezi in March 1896 1 Sir Arnold Theiler was instrumental in developing a vaccine that curbed the epizootic 5 300 References edit a b Phoofolo Pule February 1993 Epidemics and Revolutions The Rinderpest Epidemic in Late Nineteenth Century Southern Africa Past amp Present 138 1 112 143 doi 10 1093 past 138 1 112 Van den Bossche Peter de La Rocque Stephane Hendrickx Guy Bouyer Jeremy May 2010 A changing environment and the epidemiology of tsetse transmitted livestock trypanosomiasis Trends in Parasitology 26 5 236 243 doi 10 1016 j pt 2010 02 010 PMID 20304707 Normile Dennis March 2008 Driven to Extinction Science 319 5870 1606 9 doi 10 1126 science 319 5870 1606 PMID 18356500 S2CID 46157093 Pearce Fred 12 August 2000 Inventing Africa PDF New Scientist 167 2251 30 Joyce Peter 1989 The South African family encyclopaedia Internet Archive Cape Town Struik Publishers ISBN 978 0 86977 887 6 Further reading editSunseri Thaddeus 2018 04 26 The African Rinderpest Panzootic 1888 1897 Oxford Research Encyclopedia of African History Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780190277734 013 375 ISBN 978 0 19 027773 4 nbsp nbsp This African history related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1890s African rinderpest epizootic amp oldid 1130700237, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
