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]