Fourth panda dies from distemper

Another panda has died in the Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Research Center in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province. It is the fourth panda death caused by canine distemper since Dec 9.

The female panda, named Feng Feng, died from organ failure and breathing difficulties on Wednesday. She was diagnosed with the infection on Dec 26 and had been receiving emergency treatment from 30 experts from around the country.

According to Han Xueli, general office director of the Shaanxi wildlife rescue center, 5-year-old Feng Feng was the youngest of the four pandas to die from the disease and had fought the disease longer than the others.

The three other pandas died in December and last month after days of treatment, Han said.

When the epidemic hit in December, the center followed its emergency plan for disease control and prevention by putting animals in separate rooms, with a staff member assigned to care for each of them, and by using high-strength disinfectant in the entire center, Han said.

Distemper is a highly contagious virus that mainly infects canines and felines. The mortality rate can be up to 80 percent. Besides the four dead pandas, another one has been diagnosed with the virus, and three others are suspected of being infected. They were reportedly in stable condition.

"We are unable to say that the four pandas diagnosed and suspected to have the disease have fully recovered. Intensive care and continuous treatment will continue in the following days," Han said.

malie@chinadaily.com.cn