There have even been some authorities who thought that these bans might
apply to ferrets rather than or as well as to specific rodents so here
is the information and you will see that the rodents under question for
monkeypox are Prairie Dogs, Tree squirrels (Sciurus); Rope squirrels
(Funisciurus); >Dormices (Graphiurus); Gambian Giant Pouched Rats
(Cricetomys gambianus); Brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus africanus);
Striped mice (Typomys).  Ferrets are NOT involved.
 
So that the confusion doesn't increase:
 
There is a lot in
http://www.fda.gov/
on ferrets but
*****there is nothing there on ferrets and monkeypox, which makes sense
since there is no reason at this point to think that they get it.  *****
 
CDC on monkeypox and pets:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/petownerfacts.htm
  and
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/petshopownfacts.htm
 
CDC Q&A and the embargo of certain rodents due to this medical problem:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/qa.htm
 
Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 117 / Wednesday, June 18:
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/061803d.pdf - Cached -
 
The rodent ban from Health and Human Services:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030611a.html
>Today's order prohibits the importation of all rodents from Africa.
>In addition, it prohibits within the United States the distribution,
>sale, transportation and intentional release into the environment of
>prairie dogs and the following rodent species: Tree squirrels (Sciurus);
>Rope squirrels (Funisciurus); Dormices (Graphiurus); Gambian Giant
>Pouched Rats (Cricetomys gambianus); Brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus
>africanus); Striped mice (Typomys).
[Posted in FML issue 4201]