Vicky,
 
You raised some important questions concerning rabies.  Perhaps if the
supposed "bit victim" had raised them first, the ferrets would still be
alive.
 
There has never been a documented case of a ferret transmitting rabies to a
human or to another animal - according to Dr. Rupprecht of the CDC.
 
The rabies vaccine used in ferrets has exceeded the USDA requirements for
effectiveness.  It is the same vaccine used in dogs, cats and some livestock.
 
European scientists noted that the European Polecat (close relative of the
ferret) was never involved in any of the rabies "epidemics" that spread
through Europe.  Two independent researchers conducted studies on rabies
using the domestic ferret.  Both concluded that "the ferret is a dead end
for rabies." - that the ferret can not pass on the disease because it dies
before the virus appears in its saliva.  This was supported by a recent
study done at Kansas State Univ using the skunk strain of the virus.
 
Perhaps it was these KSU results that prompted the Public Health official to
say that the ferret was related to the raccoon.  Prior to the KSU results,
they used to say that the ferret was a "rabies risk" because it was related
to the skunk which readily spread the disease.  They can't use that lame
skunk excuse anymore.
 
Dick B.
[Posted in FML issue 1599]