I just have to respond to this topic. I am in complete shock about this post from the ferret owner who is afraid his ferrets caught aids. Ignorance of a subjectis no ex cuse for some of the presumptions that were made.... >I have a new neighbor who loves ferrets and has actually owned some in >the past. I was letting my 2 girls play with him while I was away on >business for a week. Fantastic!!! It is not often one finds himself having such nice neighbors. I would be hard pressed to find a neighbor that would take mine for a week. >Here is the thing I just found out see is that this neighbor is actually >gay and has a male lover that frequently visits. I am trying to see how any of that is your business???? >I am now terrified that my 2 ferrets could have caught AIDS while they >were being watched by these two people. This is by far one of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard. >I have them in quarantine and am only feeding them and changing their >cages with rubber gloves and a mask until I know they are safe. I feel for your ferrets, due to your ignorance about the disease they are missing out on your love. Your presumptions are dumbfounding. >I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN!! They are visiting frequently but not until I can >figure out what to do about these ferrets who now may have AIDS. Again another statement saiddue toa lack ofknowledge about the subject and fear. >What to do please??? You invite your grandchildren over to play with your wonderful disease free ferrets. Unless your ferrets and you neighbor sat back and shared needles while doing drugs or had an orgy . They couldn't possibly have aids. As far as I know ferrets can't contract aids. To presume just because someone that is gay has aids is downright shameful. You really should be ashamed of yourself. I suggest you take the time to research a deadly and tragic disease. You will find that your statements and fear are unwarranted. I will provide you with links that will explain HIV and Aids in full detail. I suggest you take the time to read the information. It may give you comfort to know that your possibility of contracting the disease is almost 0%. I honestly am in awe of your post. It was either written in complete fear or was written as a cruel joke. http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/ 7/1680_53963.htm?z=1624_00000_0000_rl_01 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts.htm Please read the above information. In the world today it is vital for everyone to be informed about Aids and HIV. I ran several searches about animal to human infection of the HIV virus. Documented cases are very few and far between. Most dating back over 20 years. In all cases found it was primate to human infection. Being that we are biologically so close, primates are the only mammals capable of transmitting the disease to human. If there are any other carriers of the virus that could transmit it humans, I could find no information on it. Mike & the Lil Devils [Posted in FML issue 4404]