Panic due to suspicion of killer herpes virus infection with a sick elephant in Chandaka forest

Bhubaneswar,Feb 8: Wildlife experts suspect the presence of killer herpes  virus with a sick elephant of Chandaka forest near Bhubaneswar. Treating doctors have collected blood sample from the 12 year old tusker for herpes test. As per the information from the forest official in Bhubaneswar, a big tusker of Chandka forest range falling sick suspectedly due to herpes virus has become panic for the nearby villages. The lone elephant became mad in and around Tangi-Chandpur forest range for getting a female mate. Two days back, the young elephant was found abnormally docile and severely ill. Special elephant tracker team traced  it within Patia reserve forest with swelled belly and severely infected sores all around its neck and mouth. A medical team of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology led by Prof. Dr Indramani Nath along with the rescue team of Nandankanan zoological park undertook the elephant’s treatment. The medical team suspected presence of killer  herpes virus in the elephant from the symptoms of infection. Prof. Nath said, collected blood sample was sent to OUAT laboratory for culture. This report will define the nature of illness of the elephant. Significantly, as many as four elephants from Chandaka forest have died due to the killer herpes virus infection.