Vaccine breakthrough for deadly elephant virus

Researchers have developed a breakthrough vaccine to protect young elephants from the deadly elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), a leading cause of death in young Asian elephants. This first-of-its-kind vaccine has shown promising results in adult elephants, activating the immune system to fight the virus. The next step involves testing the vaccine in younger elephants to prevent severe disease caused by EEHV, bringing hope to reduce the devastating impact of the virus in both captive and wild elephant populations. Prof Steinbach from the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency describes this advancement as a significant step forward in conservation efforts for endangered species like elephants.