Preface – World Organisation for Animal Health: one hundred years at the service of animal health

In 1920, a devastating epizootic of Rinderpest hit Europe originating from the port of Antwerp by transit of inapparently infected zebus from Asia to South America [1]. Although this infection had been known for a long time and animal disease legislation to control and eliminate outbreaks had been initiated in many countries by the end of the 19th century, its epizootic re-appearance was a wake-up call. So, four years later, 28 countries signed an International Agreement on notification of specifically listed animal infectious diseases and to set standards allowing safer trade in animals. Now, one hundred years later, Rinderpest has been eradicated in a heroic effort masterminded by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This striking success was announced in 2011. (…)