It rarely happens, but a case has arisen in Nebraska: <http://www.gothenburgtimes.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2009/07/16/4a5e51ed76b7b> BTW, the statement about rodents is not really true. In parts of the U.S., including New Jersey ground hogs are a major rabies vector animal, for example. (Obviously, everyone here knows that ferrets are mustelids, members of Carnivora rather than Rodentia, but I guess the reporter or readers were expected to not know the difference. Taxonomically, we primates are closer to Rodentia than members of Carnivora are which is why studies on animals as vastly different from them as rodents can be suggestive but don't always apply for ferrets -- and even ones on closer animals don't always apply. So, they can cause pause and consideration but always use a grain of salt, too, until more is known.) It is wise that the shots are being done by the people because even though there are no recorded cases of a ferret ever surviving long enough with the brain damage of rabies multiplying there to transmit the virus the potential does exist for that to happen. So, while it is unlikely it is not impossible. 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/ http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html all ferret topics: http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html [Posted in FML 6396]
