Oregon Zoo's Tula-Tu Shows Signs of Recovery After EEHV Diagnosis
Tula-Tu, a one-year-old Asian elephant at the Oregon Zoo, is currently stable after being diagnosed with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). Care staff detected behavioral changes on October 24, leading to immediate testing and treatment, including plasma transfusions. While the virus is life-threatening for young calves, Tula-Tu’s platelet and white cell counts are improving. The zoo noted that Tula-Tu had previously received an mRNA vaccine for a different strain, but the current infection is from EEHV-1B. Experts express cautious optimism as the calf responds to the protocol.