Calgary Zoo elephant calf diagnosed with life-threatening disease

Michelle Butterfield, Calgary Herald

According to officials at the Calgary Zoo, one of the youngest animals in the zoo family has been diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease.

Baby elephant Malti was diagnosed with elephant herpesvirus today, and veterinarians and zoo keepers have dedicated around-the-clock medical care to the young calf.

“There’s no doubt that this is a very critical situation,” said zoo veterinarians Sandie Black and Doug Whiteside in a press release about the young calf, who is in critical condition.

According to the doctors, only four elephants have survived the illness and each time depended on early treatment. Earlier this week Malti began showing flu-like symptoms. Vets started her on an an anti-viral treatment right away and sent her blood tests for analysis.

“It’s heartbreaking. Everybody loves her and had worked very hard to get her through her first year. It’s pretty devastating,” said Calgary Zoo spokeswoman Laurie Herron.

Elephant herpesvirus is responsible for the death of nearly a dozen North American elephants in the past 20 years.

Although the survival rate is poor, there is minimal risk to adult elephants. As well, there have never been any evidence to suggest the virus could transfer to humans or other species.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=7d393323-74df-40d4-bbcd-c3ab70eced38

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