Dublin Zoo confirm a third elephant has tested positive for deadly EEHV virus

Dublin Zoo have confirmed today that a third elephant has unfortunately tested positive for Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV), which has sadly been the cause of the deaths of two elephants at the zoo in the couple of weeks.

The third elephant who has now tested positive is Asha, a 17 year old Asian elephant. In a statement released by the Zoo today, they have said her age may an advantage in the situation :

"Asha’s age may be an advantage in this situation. Being older, her body has had more time to develop antibodies to fight the infection, potentially giving her a greater chance of survival."

The zoo also gave updates on other members of the heard and the work that their veterinary team are doing: 

"Our dedicated veterinary team is working tirelessly to provide Asha with the best possible care, and we are closely monitoring her condition. EEHV is a serious and unpredictable illness, but with early detection and the right treatment, we are hopeful for a positive outcome.

Currently, the other elephants in our herd are not showing signs of EEHV, but we are closely monitoring their health.

We want to thank the public for all of the messages of support we have been receiving during this challenging time. They have been a great source of strength to the Zoo team as they work round the clock to protect the herd."

You can read the full statement on Dublin Zoo's Twitter account HERE or below this article.

Asha, our 17-year-old Asian elephant and mother of Zinda, has tested positive for EEHV (Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus). pic.twitter.com/UUA0GKlCGh

— Dublin Zoo (@DublinZoo) July 10, 2024