THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Against the backdrop of the rising concern over the health of animals in the City Zoo, where four jackals succumbed to the canine distemper virus recently, the zoo authorities have decided to transfer the animals infected with the virus to a safer location.The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of experts held on Tuesday evening.Even a possibility of euthanasia was discussed at the meeting. However, since jackals belong to the Schedule I category, the consent of higher authorities is needed for this. So, the meeting decided to move the animals to a different place.The remaining four jackals infected with the virus are reportedly convalescing. However, the virus will be active for three months, posing the threat of spreading the disease to other animals. The four jackals are being screened and proper methods are being taken to check the spread of the virus.The disease is airborne. The zoo authorities are yet to decide on the location to move the animals. They have reportedly sought the consent of higher authorities regarding the matter.The zoo authorities held meetings with officials of the Chief Disease Investigation Laboratory in Palode, Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Disease Control on Tuesday evening.The animals in the zoo are currently not vaccinated against the canine distemper virus. Cases of canine distemper virus infection are so rare in animals other than stray dogs, making the treatment a tough task for the zoo authorities.So far, no study has been conducted on the effect of live attenuated virus on these animals. Vaccinating with dead virus will not create the desirable impact either. The zoo authorities are groping in the dark on ways to check the spread of the disease.Some are pointing to the spread of canine distemper virus as the reason for the unnatural death of animals reported in the past. Presently, all the jackals in the zoo are infected with the virus. The city zoo authorities are also planning to bring new jackals from Thrissur zoo.
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