Thanks for the notes of concern and support we received! They are
truly appreciated!

The ferret brought in yesterday is stable at this point. However a
second elderly female started showing symptoms this morning and is
now on iv support. While we have no indication as yet that this is
distemper, as a precaution all shelter ferrets were given boosters
today. And as of this evening, no one else is showing the very
pronounced red mouth which seems to be the first indicator.

We cannot get a necropsy done on the ferret that died, as he had
already been frozen before the second showed symptoms. However, skin
taken earlier to test for mange is going to be tested for distemper
and we should get the results quickly.

In the meantime we are still closed to new intakes, Vanessa is mapping
out who came from where, precisely when, who was exposed to who (FACT
has two housing areas - the main shelter room and a second room in V's
apartment that houses the elderly and her personal ferrets); volunteers
and visitors over the past 3 weeks; as well as all adoptions.

As we learn more, we will share more information.

Ann Gruden
Ferret Association of Connecticut

[Posted in FML 7102]