To Howard Davis: Please ammend yor rabies statement.  It is NOT true that
the shedding period is unknown in ferrets.  The data has been around since
the early 70's.  The shedding period is currently "not ACCEPTED" primarilly
for political reasons.  However the excuse they use is because it is
european data.  It doesn't matter to them that the data is identical to that
which was used to establish the quarantine period for dogs in this country
or that the data is now backed up with corroborating data from a domestic
study.
 
Regarding ferret-related human deaths....To my knowledge, in the over 300
years that ferrets have been kept in this contry there has only been one
death attributed to a ferret.  This was the notorious Hillsboro, Oregon case
of the early 90's.  While the pet ferret was named as the culprit in the
death of the 10 month old (I believe) infant, there are some very disturbing
aspects to the case.  The child was left alone in the next room, in a crib.
The ferret supposedly climbed into the crib and ripped the child's face and
neck apart.  The child suffered over 200 bite wounds and yet never cried out
so the parents could hear?  Some of the bite wounds were over 1.25 inch
deep?  And the family dog mysteroiusly disappeared about the same time.  So,
to answer your question....Only one, but under suspicious circumstances.
[Posted in FML issue 1649]