「Rinderpest」這個字在德文中是「牛的瘟疫」的意思。它以偶蹄類動物為感染的對象，急性的牛瘟病例常呈現高燒、齒齦、舌、頰及硬顎的進行性糜爛，並伴隨漿液性或黏液化膿性的眼鼻分泌物。消化道因感染而發生下痢或赤痢，進而導致病畜脫水及虛弱。感染後的死亡率可能很高。除了牛以外，綿羊、山羊、豬、羚羊也是易感動物。牛瘟的病原是牛瘟病毒，在分類上屬於副黏液病毒科內的麻疹病毒屬。

Rinderpest, cattle plague in German, is a disease of cloven-hoofed animals. Clinically, acute form of this disease is characterized by pyrexia, the progressive development of shallow erosions on the gums, tongue, cheeks and hard palate, together with serous or mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharges. Alimentary tract involvement is marked by the development of diarrhoea or dysentery, leading to severe dehydration and depression. Mortality can be high. In spite of bovine species, sheep, goats,