A 17-year-old Asian elephant has tested positive for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), a deadly virus that has killed two young members of the small herd, Dublin Zoo has confirmed.
The zoo said Asha’s age might give her a greater chance of survival as her body has had more time to develop antibodies to fight the infection.
“Our dedicated veterinary team is working tirelessly to provide Asha with the best possible care, and we are closely monitoring her condition,” Dublin zoo said in a statement.
It also said that the other elephants in the herd were not showing signs of EEHV.
The latest development follows the recent deaths of seven-year-old Zinda and eight-year-old Avani from the same virus.
EEHV has a mortality rate of up to 85 per cent and affects young elephants both in the wild and under human care. However, it poses no health risk to humans as it is not transferable between species.