After an outbreak of a virus earlier this year that killed two Asian elephants, Dublin Zoo has announced that its herd of elephants is fully healthy, reports RTE.
The zoo reports that three elephants that tested positive for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) have fully recovered and are no longer in danger.
Elephants under human care and in the wild are susceptible to the deadly EEHV virus, which poses a global threat to the survival of these endangered animals.
When the virus is active, it can cause internal bleeding and even death in elephants that have latent forms for years.
Elephants that are younger and less likely to have built up enough protection against EEHV are more vulnerable to the virus’s activation and subsequent sickness, reports RTE.
The illness claimed the lives of two elephants in July: eight-year-old Avani and seven-year-old Zinda.
The director of the Dublin Zoo, Dr. Christoph Schwitzer, stated that although the zoo is “relieved” by the good news, the loss of Avani and Zinda is still “a bittersweet moment”.
“This outcome is the result of two months of unwavering dedication and hard work from our animal care and veterinary teams, whose commitment has made us incredibly proud,” he said, reports RTE.
Dr Schwitzer added: “We are determined to use our experiences during this trying time for Dublin Zoo in a positive way, and the widespread interest in the story has led to outreach from the Irish scientific community, who were keen to offer assistance and advice. A number of these conversations, while at an early stage, offer a potential path towards an effective treatment of EEHV,” reports RTE.
“Worked tirelessly during the most critical and challenging days of this emergency, regularly consulting with international experts in elephant health and virology,” the Dublin Zoo stated of its veterinary and animal care personnel.
Additionally, it honoured veterinarian Niamh McGill, who had just returned from a maternity leave, reports RTE.
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