Abstract:
The epidemiology of wildebeest-derived malignant catarrhal fever in South Africa differs from the worldwide
accepted pattern. Here the occurrence of the disease is often not related to close contact between cattle and
wildebeest, and most cases are observed during late winter and spring, when wildebeest calves are 8-10 months
old. This is in contrast to the situation in Kenya and Tanzania, where most cases are encountered during autumn,
when wildebeest calves are 3-4 months old.