Some incorrect statements have been made about rabies during the the Kodo
crisis.  Here are some facts:
 
** PCR could be used to non-fatally determine whether an animal is actively
   shedding rabies, but there are too many drawbacks at present to make it
   feasible in bite cases.
** Ferrets can contract and shed rabies.
** 10 days is not magically associated with rabies. 10 days is the officially
   recommended observation period for dogs and cats, and that's all.
** The incubation period of rabies in US humans varies widely, depending on
   location of bite, amount of inoculate (spit in the wound, basically),
   concentration of virus in inoculate, severity of wound, rabies strain,
   and the immune system of the particular individual.
** Since 1993, the average incubation period in US humans is 53 days.
** In 1995, a WA girl developed symptoms after 16 days. (Bat strain.)
** No US human started on the approved postexposure treatment prior to
   onset of symptoms has ever succumbed to rabies, but there have been
   deaths in other countries when protocol is not followed *exactly*.
** The average cost of postexposure prophylaxis was $1500 in 1994.
** Raccoon rabies variant *has* been detected in the saliva of asymptomatic
   ferrets.  (Unofficial, but...)
** The effectiveness of Imrab-3 in ferrets is 89% at one year after first
   inoculation.
** Some ferrets do not develop sufficient auto-immune response and are not
   protected from rabies despite vaccination.
 
Opinion: it is extremely important that your facts are in order when dealing
with public health, the CDC, or NASPHV.  These people study infectious
diseases on a daily basis, and usually know what they're talking about.  In
any case -- one slip up and it's over for you, and curtains for your ferret.
 
Condolences to the Jacobs family.  I think Bob C.  had it right -- in the
end it wasn't about rabies at all.
 
swamp
 
"Who, me officer? What's a ferut? These guys?? No, they're Polish cats."
[Posted in FML issue 1972]