Christmas Gift to The Author, Adviser, and Evaluators of BIOLOGY: Student Textbook, Grade 9

© Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Education

From our email folder...

Dec 24, 2010

Here is the wrap of your Christmas Gift:… Professor Tilahun Yilma is known internationally for the vaccine he developed to get rid of the terrible cattle disease rinderpest, and for his work on HIV/AIDS vaccines. Rinderpest arrived in Ethiopia in 1888, carried by three infected cattle brought into the country by Italian soldiers. Within a year 90% of the domestic cattle plus many wild animals such as buffalo, giraffe and antelope died. As a result 30-60% of the people starved.

In the 1980s rinderpest became a major problem again. Professor Tilahun worked to develop a vaccine using genetic engineering. He was very successful – his vaccine doesn’t need refrigeration, it is easily scratched onto the animals’ neck or abdomen so cattle don’t need injections from vets and it can be made relatively cheaply in large quantities. By 1997, the vaccine was ready for use in Africa, including his country Ethiopia. Now he is working on using similar methods to develop an effective vaccine against HIV/AIDS, which is affecting people all around the world including millions of Africans. Professor Tilahun has been given many international awards and honors over the years. He is also very active in encouraging young scientists and establishing the highest quality research establishment in Africa.

Source: Grade 9 Biology (Incomplete Advanced Copy, Page 3)

Now, unwrap your gift here! ( The Eritrean and Tigrean ....By Tilahun Yilma ).