Nepal Elephant TB Control and Mgt Action Plan.pdf - Elephant Care ...

Nepal Elephant Tuberculosis Control andManagement Action Plan (2011-2015)3. Prevenng untested elephants fromentering NepalPreven!ng infected elephants from enteringNepal is one of the most effec!ve methodsto control TB. The prac!ce of obtainingelephants from outside Nepal is stronglydiscouraged. All elephants that do enterNepal must have cer!ficate of a nonreac!veElephantTB Stat-Pak ® test performedwithin the previous 30 days by a licensedveterinarian. Wri$en documenta!on mustinclude the elephant’s name; age; sex;owner’s name and contact informa!on;veterinarian’s name and contact informa!on;and test results. A photograph of the testlabeled with the elephant’s name and dateof the test must be included. The TB PlanVeterinarian will have the authority to retest(if tested previously) elephants to verifytest results upon arrival in Nepal.TB Plan Veterinary Officer will be availableto travel with private owners planning toprocure new elephants. The private ownerwill bear the cost of tes!ng and travelexpenses for TB Plan Veterinarian. TB PlanVeterinarian will have the authority totest elephants that enter Nepal untestedimmediately and independently. ElephantTB Stat-Pak ® reac!ve elephants must leaveNepal. All new elephants must be microchippedfor iden!fica!on.4. Elephant eventsAll elephants par!cipa!ng in events such aselephant races or polo must have cer!ficateof a current non-reac!ve Elephant TB Stat-Pak® test or comple!on of prophylac!ctreatment (including post-treatment tes!ngas described under Post-Treatment Policy insec!on 1.5).5. SegregaonAll elephants that are reac!ve on theElephant TB Stat-Pak® and DPP ® VetTBtests will be segregated to prevent poten!altransmission of TB to other elephants,humans, or wildlife according to segrega!onguidelines given in segrega!on procedures.6. TreatmentElephants will be treated for TB as prescribedabove in Sec!on 1.5 using the same drugsshown to be effec!ve for humans. Elephantsare treated for a longer period of !me as ameasure of safety as there is s!ll much thatis unknown about TB in this species.7. Grazing praccesEfforts will be made to prevent elephantsfrom grazing in close proximity to cap!veca$le or buffalo to minimize the risk of TBtransmission.8. Dung disposalThe current prac!ce of burning elephantdung in close proximity to elephantstables will be discon!nued, as smoke is arespiratory irritant and adversely affects thefunc!on of the lungs of both the elephantsand their handlers. A prac!cal mechanismwill be developed and implemented for dungburning at a sufficient distance to preventsmoke from reaching the elephants and theircaretakers or alterna!ve methods of dungdisposal will be ins!tuted.9. One Health working groupEstablish a One Health Nepal working groupwith local wildlife, medical and veterinary19