I have recently spoken with Mr. Jerry Rightmyer of the Monroe County dept.
of healths' office of rabies control and animal bites.  His office has
recieved Dr. Melissant Eidsons' (state public health vet) recommendations
regarding the handling of ferrets involved in bite cases.
 
Mr. Rightmyer was kind enough to mail a copy of the letter to me.  Excerpts
are as follows;
 
" The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians' Rabies
Compendium Committe met in Syracuse November 1 and 2 to develop the 1998
Rabies Compendium.  At that meeting the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention presented results of ongoing studies which indicate that ferrets
only shed virus within a few days of clinical rabies symptoms.  The
committee's conclusion was that a 10-day confinement period after a bite by
a healthy ferret would be effective in determining rabies status, as it is
with dogs and cats.  The 1998 Compendium will reflect that change of policy.
New York State will develop policies and legal changes to reflect this
development.  In the interim, we recommend that healthy ferrets not be
killed and tested to determine rabies status, and that individual situations
be discussed with Dr. Eidson, State Public Health Veterinarian, to determine
appropriate actions.  Dr. Eidson can be reached at"***-***-****.
 
The letter continues about a new human rabies vaccine being approved.  I
blanked out the phone# in case it was for official use only.
 
Mr. Rightmyer told me that as far as he was concerned, Dr. Eidsons'
recommendations were "as good as law".
 
This is great news for Monroe County residents.  All other county residents
would be advised to check with your own Health Departments as acceptance of
these recommendations may not be as well embraced.
 
   SP
[Posted in FML issue 2229]