Vaccine offers Hope in Fight Against Deadly Elephant Virus
CHESTER,UK – A groundbreaking trial offers a potential lifeline for young elephants threatened by Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV),a virus that causes a rapidly fatal disease. Researchers are optimistic the results will lead to preventative measures against the devastating illness, which has claimed the lives of over 100 elephants in zoos and sanctuaries worldwide.
EEHV is particularly lethal to juvenile elephants, causing a haemorrhagic disease characterized by uncontrolled bleeding. The disease progresses with alarming speed, frequently enough proving fatal within 24 hours, and has a mortality rate exceeding 80% in young elephants.
While manny adult elephants carry the virus without showing symptoms,calves are especially vulnerable during weaning,as the protective antibodies received from their mothers’ milk begin to decline. This leaves their immune systems susceptible to being overwhelmed by the virus.
“It can cause really severe disease,” explains Dr. Katie edwards, lead conservation scientist at Chester Zoo.
The impact of EEHV has been acutely felt in zoological settings. Chester Zoo alone has lost seven baby elephants to the virus in the past decade. The virus has also been detected in wild elephant populations and in elephant orphanages and sanctuaries, though the full extent of its impact on wild herds remains unknown.
This first-of-its-kind trial represents a critical step towards safeguarding the future of these majestic animals. Researchers hope the findings will pave the way for a vaccine or other preventative strategies to protect vulnerable calves from this deadly virus.
