Scientists Develop Vaccine Against Deadly Elephant Herpesvirus

British scientists from Chester Zoo, the University of Surrey, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have developed the world's first vaccine against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a deadly disease that kills young Asian elephants within 24 hours. This vaccine, proven safe and effective in a six-year trial involving adult elephants, works by priming the immune system's T-cells to recognize and fight the virus, a novel approach differing from traditional antibody-focused vaccines. EEHV poses a severe threat to endangered Asian elephants, with fewer than 40,000 remaining in the wild across countries including India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand. The vaccine is designed for use in zoos and sanctuaries and is planned to be tested on calves, the group most at risk, with hopes to develop delivery methods suitable for wild populations. The breakthrough offers significant hope for conservation efforts, potentially reducing the high fatality rate of up to 80% in infected juveniles and helping to protect this iconic species from extinction. Researchers are now moving forward to test the vaccine on younger elephants to maximize its protective impact.