Because multiple nations (most recently Britain) have had farmed
poultry with bird flu, and because evidence of possible infection of
the nasopharanx by one of the strains exists now I figured that these
would be appreciated. There are several resources at each site.

The video in this one from about a year ago is a WONDERFULLY CLEAR
short portion of a tv show (Nova Science Now) explanation of risk rates
and part of why they simply are not actually known (though they are now
better guessed at from work like that mentioned in the second video --
from last Nov -- listed later in this post).

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3302/04.html

Also there:  Ask the Expert interview including:
>: What do you think is the most serious health threat our planet
>faces heading into the future?
>Anonymous, New York, New York
>
>A: The short-term health threats are infectious diseases that have
>been with us for a long time but are not well-controlled, such as
>malaria and tuberculosis, as well as other diseases that are new
>and unpredictable, such as those that are transmitted from animal
>species, including influenza. The longer-term health threats are
>cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Yes, in addition to getting avian flu types ferrets (and a range of
other domestic animals) do get tuberculosis and some of the related
mycobacterial diseases (usually but not always from dietary exposure).

In addition, there is a links section to news stories on the topic
and it IS UP TO DATE.

Also, very, very clear, longer (13 minute) video on bird flu:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3318/02.html

includes why Hemagglutinin (H) is the "key for flu to get into cells
and Neuraminidase (N) is the escape "cutter" for getting back out and
why those are important, and which of the Hs and Ns birds and people
both have overlaps for, and the two mutations needed by the 1918 H to
become a human pandemic. Has some fun cartoons that explain it well.

Notice that bird waste poses inhalation risks and why. (Too bad; it
is great for blackberry bushes...)

In the environment the approaches have included killing the infected
birds, sometimes destroying the buildings -- that varies -- and the
use of good detergents. The strains of this flu have not survived
cooking so far.

Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth
People can join there or can send a blank mail to the automated
joining address:
[log in to unmask]
and then follow the directions.
(The second is recommended for those having problems with Yahoogroups
web settings, and afterward send a blank mail from your subscribed
address to
[log in to unmask]
to get the digest instead of individual mails. )
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/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml

[Posted in FML 5509]