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Jet the Elephant: A Leap Against Deadly Virus
9 Oct
Summary
- An elephant calf received a novel vaccine against a deadly herpesvirus.
- The virus causes a potentially fatal disease, leading to high mortality rates.
- This vaccination marks a significant advancement in elephant conservation efforts.
A groundbreaking vaccine offers new hope for elephant calf Jet at the Saint Louis Zoo. Jet, aged 1½, recently received his third dose of an mRNA vaccine designed to protect against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). This virus is the leading cause of death for young elephants in North America, carrying a mortality rate of 60-80% for calves with EEHV hemorrhagic disease.
The vaccination milestone for Jet on September 30 comes eight years after the zoo tragically lost elephant Kenzi to the same virus. Researchers began developing this vaccine in 2009, with initial doses administered to adult elephants in Houston in 2024. Zoos across North America have since adopted the vaccine, and early studies show positive results, fostering optimism among veterinarians and researchers.
Jet, an Asian elephant born via artificial insemination in November 2024, will receive ongoing monitoring. The vaccine helps bolster his immunity until he can develop his own natural response to the virus. This development represents a significant advancement in the decades-long effort to safeguard the Asian elephant population from this devastating disease.
