Hi Everyone,
The rally in Lansing, MI went fairly well on Monday.  Due to the rain we had
fewer people than we had hoped.  But the TV stations were there and we got
our point accross.
 
One of the TV stations interviewed Ingham County Animal Control Director
Allan Spyke who said that the rabies vaccine for ferrets is about 85%
effective.  Thanks to Dick Bossart, I sent to the TV station a brief letter
along with the actual 1990 study showing IMRAB-3 to be 89% effective and the
1994 personal communication from the president of Rhone Merieux to the
California Department of Fish and Game which stated that IMBAR-3 is 94.4%
effective.
 
I called the Rhone Merieux company (they make IMRAB-3) myself yesterday.  On
the phone, they told me that IMRAB-3 is 89% effective.  When I asked how
effective the rabies vaccines for cats and dogs were, they told me about
100% and 97% respectively.  I keep hearing and seeing people write that the
ferret vaccine is more effective than the dog and cat vaccines.  I haven't
seen any proof to show that that is accurate.  If you have references,
please send them to me!
 
The important thing is that scientific data have demonstrated that IMRAB-3
is both effective in protecting ferrets against rabies and exceeds the
minimum protection level required by the USDA, which is 86.7%.  Fortunately
the TV station deleted the interview by Mr. Spyke on the 11 o'clock
broadcast.  Now I just need to get the correct information to Mr. Spyke and
other ignorant people in important positions.  They can only ignore the
facts for so long!
 
Katrina Ramsell     CVM  2000
[Posted in FML issue 1975]