Portland's beloved baby elephant Tula-Tu is suffering from a common herpes virus called endotheliotropic herpesvirus, or EEHV-1B.
Although Tula remains in stable condition, EEHV is a disease known to spread rapidly and is the leading cause of death for young Asian elephants, including Tula's older sister, Lilly, who died at six years old in 2018.
Tula has gone through multiple rounds of treatment for EEHV, which improved her overall health.
'Her white-cell counts are nearly back to normal and her viral load is trending down. She appears more alert, and her appetite has improved — these are all positive indicators,' the Oregon Zoo's director of animal health, Dr Carlos Sanchez, said in a press release.
'She's a tough little elephant.'
Dr Sanchez said the zoo is continuously running labs on Tula, including molecular testing, which looks deep inside cells to detect specific gene mutations or infectious agents, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Blood samples have been sent to the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University as well as Baylor College of Medicine and the Smithsonian's National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory for testing.
Zoo staff noted that Tula's mother, Rose-Tu, has remained constantly by her side to nurse and comfort her.
Portland's beloved baby elephant Tula-Tu is suffering from a common herpes virus called endotheliotropic herpesvirus, or EEHV-1B
Tula has gone through multiple rounds of treatment for EEHV, which improved her overall health
Oregon's zoo is continuously running labs on Tula, including molecular testing, which looks deep inside cells to detect specific molecular gene mutations or infectious agents, according to the National Cancer Institute
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The young calf has also spent time outdoors in a private yard and bonded with her father, Samson, and aunties Sung-Surin and Chendra, according to the Oregon Zoo.
Caregivers shared that Tula has even been spotted playing with her favorite toy, which is a large blue ball handed down from her mom.
Earlier this year, Tula-Tu became the first elephant on the West Coast to be given an mRNA vaccine designed for the EEHV-1A strain.
Her current infection, however, stems from a different strain known as EEHV-1B.
Although EEHV-1B is linked to fewer fatalities than 1A, both variants remain dangerous for young Asian elephants, and veterinarians say it is still uncertain whether the 1A vaccine helps shield against the 1B variant.
To combat EEHV, the Oregon Zoo has spent nearly 25 years funding research and providing vital blood samples as part of a global effort to discover vaccines and treatments.
Working alongside accredited facilities nationwide, the zoo remains dedicated to researching and monitoring the virus to keep elephants safe.
According to Dr Sanchez, Tula-Tu's blood samples will help with several active studies, including a joint effort with OSU and Baylor to give researchers deeper insight into vaccine performance.
Although Tula remains in stable condition, EEHV is a disease known to spread rapidly and is the leading cause of death for young Asian elephants, including Tula's older sister, Lilly, who died at six years old in 2018
Working alongside accredited facilities nationwide, the zoo remains dedicated to researching and monitoring the virus to keep elephants safe
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Oregon zoo for further information on the health of Tula-Tu
'The work we're doing now could play a significant role in protecting future elephant calves from the disease, including those in range countries,' Sanchez said.
'It's very difficult to study the virus in wild elephants, but zoos can monitor the elephants in their care closely and obtain samples of blood and other fluids,' he added.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Oregon Zoo for more information on Tula-Tu's health.
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