NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

In a follow-up on a report from last week, officials with the ABQ BioPark zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico say Jazmine, the eight-year-old Asian elephant, has died from a elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infection Sunday.

The elephant tested positive for the virus on December 28. The same virus claimed the life of her brother Thorn on Christmas Day.

“The BioPark’s elephant experts and veterinary teams did everything in their power – and then some – to help Jazmine,” said Stephanie Stowell, ABQ BioPark Director, “and Jazmine matched their efforts every step along the way. True to her strong-willed nature, Jazmine fought valiantly against the disease.”

All elephants can carry EEHV in a latent state through their entire lives without negative effects. It is not known why the virus sometimes comes out of latency. Elephants are most susceptible to EEHV from 18 months to 8 years of age. EEHV causes hemorrhagic disease that can be fatal for young elephants. It is the leading cause of death for Asian elephant calves and can strike elephants in the wild and in human care.