Oregon Zoo Baby Elephant Fights Rare Virus

Tula-Tu, the infant elephant at the Oregon Zoo, is receiving treatment for a serious viral infection.

The animal contracted elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, commonly known as EEHV. Zoo officials state that young elephants are highly vulnerable to this condition. Caretakers noticed a shift in Tula-Tu’s energy levels and behavior on October 24. These changes prompted staff to contact the veterinary team immediately. Doctors began administering treatment before laboratory tests at Oregon State University confirmed the diagnosis.

Dr. Carlos Sanchez serves as the zoo’s director of animal health. He notes that catching the virus early is essential for the animal’s recovery. According to Sanchez, Tula-Tu has remained stable since treatment started. This stability offers a positive sign for the calf’s prognosis. The zoo administered an mRNA vaccine to Tula-Tu earlier this year, but the current infection involves a different strain of the virus.

The disease has struck this family before. Tula-Tu has a sibling, also a calf of Tula-Rose, who died from EEHV in 2018. That elephant was six years old at the time of its death. Medical staff will now use blood samples from Tula-Tu for ongoing research. This work supports a partnership between Oregon State University and Baylor University to study the vaccine's effectiveness against various strains.

The report comes from the Northwest News Network. This group is a joint effort by public media organizations in Oregon and Washington. They share news to keep regional audiences informed about local events.