It is caused by small ruminants morbillivirus in the genus Morbillivirus, and is closely related to, among others, rinderpest morbillivirus, measles morbillivirus, and canine morbillivirus (previously known as canine distemper virus). The disease is highly contagious, and can have an 80–100% mortality rate in acute cases in an epizootic setting.
The disease is caused by a small ruminant morbillivirus, which is closely related to rinderpest morbillivirus, measles morbillivirus, and canine morbillivirus (formerly known as canine distemper virus). It's highly contagious and can cause a high mortality rate of 80–100% in outbreaks.