China to improve treatment for sick pandas

Chinese authorities on Wednesday stressed treatment and disease prevention for pandas after two of the animals died of a measle-like virus.

Funds have been allocated to treat sick pandas and prevent the disease from spreading, according to the State Forestry Administration. It did not give specifics about the funds.

Zhao Shucong, head of the administration, urged effective measures to save the sick pandas and guard against the spread of the disease.

Two pandas have died in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, local authorities confirmed on Monday.

An eight-year-old panda named Da Bao developed a twitch after being infected with canine distemper virus (CDV), a viral disease that affects a wide variety of animals including dogs, primates and large cats, on December 24 of last year. Da Bao died on the afternoon of Jan. 4 from heart failure and lung edema.

Another panda, eight-year-old Cheng Cheng, died on December 9, 2014.

Two other pandas are ill, with one in critical condition, and four others have shown fever symptoms and been quarantined for further diagnosis.

More than 30 experts from across China are caring for the pandas.

Canine distemper is a viral disease that affects the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract, as well as the spinal cord and the brain. The infected animals usually have symptoms including high fever, eye inflammation, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. It is highly contagious with a high fatality rate and is commonly spread through contact with infected body fluids or contaminated food and water.

Prior to the epidemic, the wildlife rescue, breeding and research center of Shaanxi was home to 25 giant pandas. After the outbreak, the center sent its healthy pandas to nature reserves elsewhere in the province.