Caused by Orthopoxvirus cameli, this virus, similar to human smallpox, can decimate herds and is even attracting the interest of military laboratories.
This virus, the closest genetically to the human smallpox virus eradicated in 1980, is also a cause for concern for public health and global security.
The camel, a symbol of resilience and survival in the most arid regions of the planet, is not invincible. An invisible threat, as old as caravans, looms over the camelid herds. Camel pox, caused by the Orthopoxvirus cameli, is a scourge that affects both camels and dromedaries. Present throughout the camelid herding belt—from sub-Saharan Africa to the Middle East and Central Asia—this viral disease hangs like a sword of Damocles over the pastoral economy.
But its importance goes beyond mere economic losses. This virus, the closest
genetic match to the human smallpox virus eradicated in 1980, is also a cause for concern regarding public health and global security. Camelid populations in the New World, such as llamas and alpacas, are theoretically susceptible, but the disease is unknown there. Australia, which is home to large herds of imported wild camels, remains miraculously unaffected so far.
The virus itself is a formidable adversary. While it is susceptible to heat, ultraviolet light, and disinfectants, its survival in skin scabs for at least four months makes it a fearsome contaminant in arid environments where veterinary care is scarce. Its specificity is such that it does not infect any other animal species, making it a highly targeted and devastatingly effective pathogen.
The symptoms are as varied as they are misleading. The disease can go completely unnoticed in resistant adults, or conversely, manifest as fatal generalized forms. In young people, it is often severe, beginning with fever, then lymphadenitis, before the appearance of macules and papules that become crusted. The lesions, which start on the head and eyelids, can spread throughout the body, including the internal mucous membranes.
In its severe form, camelid pox is no longer limited to the skin; it invades the respiratory and digestive systems, causing salivation, nasal discharge, diarrhea, and abortions. The weakened animal can succumb to fatal secondary infections. Transmission occurs through direct or indirect contact, but insects and ticks may also play a role, particularly after rains that promote their proliferation.
Faced with this scourge, prevention remains the most effective weapon. Live attenuated virus vaccines offer protection for up to six years, while inactivated vaccines provide immunity for approximately twelve months. However, access to these vaccines in the most remote rural areas remains a logistical challenge.
Camel farming, a pillar of the economy and culture in arid areas, is therefore facing a major challenge: protecting its herds from an ancestral virus, in a context where the health and security consequences extend far beyond the simple borders of the deserts.
