Hi FMLer's:
 
It's official.  We had our first case of rabies in ferrets.  Here is the
article that was printed in our small local paper.
 
"Hunterdon County "Lebanon Township" has recorded the state's first-ever
laboratory-confirmed case of ferret rabies, the county health officer said
Dec. 6.
 
The infected ferret, euthanized after symptoms were discovered and the
animal was extremely ill, was an outdoor pet of a township family.  The
animal had been allowed to roam outside freely since June.
 
As a result of the discovery, nine people, including the couple who oned the
ferret, some workers at their veterinarian's office and some of the couple's
guest, are undergoing post-exposure rabies treatments."
 
Okay, now I am not a ferret expert or anything but there are some statements
here that raise a brow.............. First of all I don't know of any case
were ferrets are "allowed to roam outside freely" that won't take off.  We
are talking about a ferret not a cat.  Second, why didn't the "VET"
recommend rabies vacation?  Third, what were these people planning on doing
when the weather got colder and snowed?  We had 3 feet of snow in Jan. 96.
The deer couldn't move or walk in it what is a tiny ferret supposed to do.
 
And last but not least......I hope all the people that are "undergoing
post-exposure rabies treatments" have to go through a serious of shots with
large needles that hurt really really bad and cause flu like side
effects!!!!!!!!!  Especially the owner and Vet and I hope they have to go
through it for an extremely long time.  (In case you haven't noticed I'M A
LITTLE PISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
 
For anyone interested this was printed in "Strictly Hunterdon" it is part of
the Courier News, P.O.  Box 6600, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, December 12, 1996.
It was in the section called "Huntedon in Review".  Special Sections Editor
is Susan Hoogstenden 908-707-3164, or fax 908-707-3113 or e-mail
[log in to unmask]
 
I would love to call the township and find out who these people are.
 
Gina
[Posted in FML issue 1788]