>From:    Bruce Williams <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: ECE research
> ... in by people experiencing ECE outbreaks, I also infected 12 animals
>with the ECE virus to follow the progression of the disease.  No animals
>were allowed to suffer, and no animals were allowed to develop severe
>debilitating disease.  All infected animals were euthanized at the end of
>the study;
 
Dr. Williams, I have nothing but the utmost respect for all you've done for
our beloved ferrets, and for the work you continue to do every day.  I know
that sacrifice is necessary some times, nevertheless, I was somewhat taken
aback to hear that a dozen of these ferrets had to die for this study.  We
bring ECE ferrets back to health every day; was there no chance of recovery
and adoption out to those that could take in ECE active ferrets?
 
>these animals, however their sacrifice, and the knowledge that it produced
>has saved the lives of literally thousands of ferrets since then.
 
I don't fully understand what has been realized by this study.  From all I
read about ECE, we still only know that it's highly contagious and
supportive care is about all one can do.  We knew that three or four years
ago.  If there's more, I'd love to know about it because we still have to
deal with ECE outbreaks in our shelter every year.
 
I know how much you care for ferrets, surely as much as all of us here do,
and I know it was a very difficult piece of research for you to have to
carry out.  All I can say is, thank you for caring so much and I'm sorry
that the price was 12 little lives.
 
For the ferrets,
Mike
 
* Michael F. Janke, [log in to unmask]
* Secretary, South Florida Ferret Club and Rescue, Inc.
*
* Visit our web site: http://www.gate.net/~mjanke
[Posted in FML issue 2230]