Rabies has been confirmed in the sambar deer that died at the city zoo on Sunday.

A detailed examination by the State Institute for Animal Diseases, Palode, after the post-mortem examination of the animal at the zoo on Monday confirmed the disease.

Following this, an emergency meeting convened by zoo director P.S. Manjuladevi decided that all zoo employees who closely interacted with the sambar deer will be administered post-exposure anti-rabies vaccination, while others would be given prophylactic vaccine.

A team, led by zoo veterinary surgeon Nikesh Kiran, has been formed to administer emergency anti-rabies vaccine to all animals in the sambar deer enclosure. The vaccination for the animals will begin on Tuesday.

As the museum and zoo is a biosecurity zone, a letter will be sent to the city Corporation to capture and relocate stray dogs from the Museum limits.

Though the source of the disease is unclear, it is suspected that animals such as mongoose and civet cats could have transmitted it to animals in the zoo.

Dr. Nikesh Kiran, in a statement, said there was no need to vaccinate animals other than the sambar deer at present. The deer were ‘dead-end hosts,’ and the possibility of rabies spreading from them to other animals was less. Moreover, all animals were administered the annual anti-rabies vaccination, he said.