Fourth elephant tests positive for potentially deadly virus, Dublin Zoo says

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) causes acute, fatal haemorrhagic disease in wild and captive juvenile Asian and African elephants, and in severe cases, the virus can result in death within 24 hours. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

A fourth elephant has tested positive for an incurable virus that has already claimed the lives of two others, Dublin Zoo has announced.

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) causes acute, fatal haemorrhagic disease in wild and captive juvenile Asian and African elephants, and in severe cases, the virus can result in death within 24 hours.

Two other elephants died at the zoo from the disease recently, while a third elephant tested positive for it last week.

In a new update, Dublin Zoo posted on its Facebook page that a fourth elephant has now tested positive for EEHV.

“Samiya, our 9-year-old Asian elephant, has tested positive for EEHV (Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus)," it wrote. “Both Samiya, who turns 10 in September, and 17-year-old Asha, who tested positive for EEHV last week, are currently showing no outward signs of illness.

“Tests have confirmed that both elephants have some antibodies which may boost the chances of a positive outcome.

“EEHV remains an extremely difficult illness to predict, however Samiya and Asha continue to receive the best possible treatment from our wonderful veterinary and animal care teams, who have been working so incredibly hard through this challenging period."

It added that the other elephants in the herd are currently not showing signs of EEHV but are also being closely monitored.

On July 1 Avani an eight year-old elephant passed away from the virus and a week later on July 8, the zoo said their “beloved” seven year-old elephant Zinda also died from the same virus.

In an earlier statement online, a spokesperson for the zoo said the virus “poses no risk to humans but is often fatal to young elephants”.