Richard G. Hunter, Ph.D., Deputy State Health Officer through Richard G.
Hopkins, M.D., M.S.P.H., State Epidemiologist, 1317 Winewood Boulevard,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700; my note preceding their text, and excerpts:
 
Letter (which is a photostat of an (undated) "Rabies Quarantine Period Now
Recognized for Ferrets" memo sent/to be sent to Florida County Health
Department Administrators/Directors) begins with a summary of the shedding
studies done, mentions of U.S. Public Health Service, CDC, and other
collaborators, and the positive response to those studies by the NASPHV.
 
"...Therefore the conclusion has been that the same quarantine and
observation period is appropriate as for dogs and cats.
 
The Florida Department of Health and its multiagency Rabies Control Advisory
Committee has now endorsed the recommendations of the National Association
of State Public Health Veterinarians Inc., which will be published soon in
the 1998 edition of the National Compendium of Animal Rabies Control.
Effective as of this date, all county health departments need to quarantine
ferrets that bite or expose people and observe them for ten (10) days
(unless owners want to have them tested for rabies).  Additionally, a ferret
bitten by a rabid or suspect rabid animal must be quarantined for 45 days if
the ferret has been appropriately vaccinated for rabies by a licenced
veterinarian or 180 days if the ferret is not currently vaccinated.  County
health departments should notify local animal agencies and Humane Society
affiliates in their jurisdiction about this change in departmental policy.
 
These changes will be detailed in the 1997 Florida Rabies Prevention and
Control Compendium now being printed.  If you have questions about this
issue, please call Dr. William Bigler, Special Studies Epidemiologist, Dr.
Steven Wiersma, Deputy State Epidemiologist or Dr. Richard S. Hopkins,
Bureau Chief, State Epidemiologist at (850) 488-2905 or SunCom 278-2905."
 
Sukie
[Posted in FML issue 2168]