Seattlest Asks a Vet: Am I At Risk For Elephant Herpes?

In the wake of Hansa the Elephant's death from herpes, many Seattleites are understandably concerned about whether they, too, could contract this fatal disease.

Board-certified veterinarian Dr. Ophelia Roberson-Sykes, DVM, graciously agreed to answer a few of our questions.

Seattlest: So how likely is it that I could have elephant herpes?

Dr. Roberson-Sykes: Not likely. Herpes can only be transmitted through direct contact, like through kissing an infected elephant.

Seattlest: Well I was dating this elephant Jenny last year--could I have gotten it from her?

Dr. Roberson-Sykes: Not unless she was infected and you came into contact with a herpes sore on her body, through kissing or genital contact.

Seattlest: A friend of mine just started dating an elephant, should she stop seeing him?

Dr. Roberson-Sykes: No--listen--you can't get it unless you've kissed an infected elephant. People shouldn't start dumping their elephant boyfriends and girlfriends just because one single elephant died from herpes.

Seattlest: Ok, so say I meet this really hot elephant chick and she has elephant herpes. My brother told me that if you do oral, then anal, you can't get herpes...is that true?

Dr. Roberson-Sykes: No. If your partner is infected with elephant herpes you should practice safe sex, including the use of condoms and dental dams.

Seattlest: Oh, wait, maybe it was anal, then oral...

Dr. Roberson-Sykes: No.

Thanks to Dr. Roberson-Sykes and Madison Beach Veterinary Hospital