Now there finally is an answer:
Yes, some strains of avian influenza can be passed to ferrets through
consumption of infected raw poultry (to respiratory system apparently
through tonsils, and to liver and pancreas from intestinal route).

I think the question came from a raw feeder UK back then (Chris was it
you?), but it has been so long that I am not sure and do not know if
the person who asked is on the FHL any longer so will copy the abstract
to the FML in case the person is around in either.

***Is the asker here? If so, please, let me know privately. It was a
great question!***

BEGIN QUOTE

J Infect Dis. 2009 Mar 1;199(5):717-25.
Pathogenesis of H5N1 Influenza Virus Infections in Mice and Ferret
Models Differs According to Respiratory Tract or Digestive System
Exposure.
Lipatov AS, Kwon YK, Pantin-Jackwood MJ, Swayne DE.
Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service,
United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia.

Background. Epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory data suggest that
H5N1 influenza viruses are transmitted through and predominantly affect
the respiratory system of mammals. Some data suggest digestive system
involvement. However, direct evidence of alimentary transmission and
infection in mammals is lacking. Methods. Infection with and
pathogenesis of 4 H5N1 viruses were assessed in mice and ferrets
inoculated intranasally or intragastrically with virus in liquid. In
addition, ferrets were fed infected raw chicken meat or minced meat
administered into the stomach by gavage with a tube. Results. Only one
virus, A/Whooper swan/Mongolia/244/05, was able to infect mice after
intragastric inoculation in liquid, whereas no evidence of infection
was observed in ferrets after intragastric inoculation. Consumption
of infected meat by ferrets resulted in respiratory system infection
only (due to A/Muscovy duck/Vietnam/ 209/05 and A/Whooper
swan/Mongolia/244/05 viruses) or in both severe respiratory and
systemic infection with predominant involvement of the liver, pancreas,
and large and small intestine (due to A/Vietnam/ 1203/04 virus). Direct
intragastric exposure to infected meat (A/ Vietnam/1203/04 virus)
resulted in lethal systemic disease mainly affecting the intestine,
liver, and pancreas but not involving the lungs. Conclusions. Our
results demonstrated that exposure of the digestive system to H5N1
influenza viruses could initiate infection either through the tonsil,
with spread to respiratory tissues, or through intestinal infection,
with spread to the liver and pancreas.

PMID: 19210164

END QUOTE

URL:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210164

I guess that just boils down to what Dr. Karen said at the IFC
Symposium this year: It is best to know the origin of the animals that
are used as food and their health. (She gets from a private farm she
visits and checks.) Of course, I suspect that all farms will have to
start being more careful if influenza is present after this because it
might be a human infection route, too, if handlers of raw are not
careful enough.

Now, there is a new question, I think: can any strains of avian
influenza be passed on or in uncooked eggs?

Bill, you will have to decide if this post is okay for the FML.
The abstract just appeared in Pub Med between my last check early
yesterday morning and now.

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 6245]