On Jun. 28, 2011, during the 37th United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Conference, the 192 Member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization adopted a Resolution declaring global freedom from rinderpest, making it the first animal disease to be eliminated thanks to human efforts, and only the second disease of any kind, after smallpox in humans.

Rinderpest (a.k.a. cattle plague or steppe murrain) is a contagious and highly-fatal disease of cattle, including antelope, buffaloes, deer, giraffes, wildebeests, warthogs and yaks. Rinderpest is caused by a morbillivirus related to human measles, canine distemper and peste des petits ruminants.