Not sure where the hantavirus questions came from, but it's a chance to learn a bit! Go to the departments of health for the states and search for hantavirus Not sure if this link will work but here are the NJ results: <http://search.state.nj.us/query.html?select=%2Burl%3Awww.state.nj.us%2Fhealth%2F&qt=hantavirus&Search.x=18&Search.y=15&Search=+search+> This may be most helpful: <http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/factsheets/f_hantavirus.pdf> and begins > >What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome? > >Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare disease caused by the Sin >Nombre virus, one of several hantaviruses identified in the Americas. >People become infected when they breathe in (inhale) dust contaminated >with the virus. The disease was first recognized in the spring and >summer of 1993 in the Four Corners area of New Mexico and Arizona. >There are between 10 - 50 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome >diagnosed in the United States annually. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome >has not been diagnosed in New Jersey. For NY: <http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/hantavirus/docs/fact_sheet.pdf> >Hantaviruses are a type of virus found in rodents in different parts >of the world. In the U.S., human hantavirus infections were first >identified in the southwest in 1993. In recent years, sporadic cases >have been found in several eastern states including New York. Studies >have shown that mice are often infected and appear to be the source >of infection. and >The virus is carried by rodents such as mice which are found >throughout North America. Infected rodents shed the live virus in >saliva, droppings and urine. Humans are infected when they inhale >microscopic particles that contain viruses from rodent urine or >droppings. Insect bites and pets are not believed to play a role >in hantavirus transmission. Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html [Posted in FML 6172]
