For widest dissemination and immediate release (In Kansas)!!!  Pet ferrets
have been given a significant new lease on life and their owners can breath
a little easier as the result of a recommendation by the Kansas Department
of Health and Environment Department.
 
As a result of a new recommendation , if a ferret is involved in a bite or
scratch to a human, the local health officer or the local health officer's
designee can now simply obtain a signed affidavit from the owner that (A)
the ferret(s) were born and bred in captivity; and (B) the ferret(s) have
never been outside in its/their entire life except in a pet carrier; and c
the ferret(s) have had no contact with other non-human mammals which are
either kept outdoors or allowed to roam freely outdoors; and (D) the local
health officer or the local health officer's designee determines that the
possibility of the ferret(s) having been exposed to rabies is unlikely.
 
Prior to this recommendation, the KDHE recommendation for ferrets was to
sacrifice and test for rabies.
 
Troy Lynn Eckart of Ferret Family Services, Manhattan, says, "I am pleased
with this recommendation and affidavit.  This indicates that KDHE has read
the available current data and information and recognizes that the pet
ferret is a low rabies risk."
 
This recommendation follows closely on the heels of findings by the
KSU/CDC/UG study showing that the pet ferret will die of rabies before it is
capable of passing on the disease.  This study used the skunk strain of the
rabies virus.  The virus was not shed in the ferrets saliva and the ferrets
died within 4 days of showing symptoms.  Testing on other strains will soon
follow.
 
For more information contact: KDHE Dr. Pezzino (913) 296-6536
 
Sent by:  Ms Troy Lynn Eckart, Ferret Family Services, PO Box 186,
Manhattan KS  66505-0186 Media contact days (913)532-0400 evenings
(913) 456-8337
[Posted in FML issue 1609]