Not sure where the hantavirus questions came from, but it's a chance to
learn a bit!

Go to the departments of health for the states and search for
hantavirus

Not sure if this link will work but here are the NJ results:
<http://search.state.nj.us/query.html?select=%2Burl%3Awww.state.nj.us%2Fhealth%2F&qt=hantavirus&Search.x=18&Search.y=15&Search=+search+>

This may be most helpful:
<http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/factsheets/f_hantavirus.pdf>

and begins
>
>What is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?
>
>Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare disease caused by the Sin
>Nombre virus, one of several hantaviruses identified in the Americas.
>People become infected when they breathe in (inhale) dust contaminated
>with the virus. The disease was first recognized in the spring and
>summer of 1993 in the Four Corners area of New Mexico and Arizona.
>There are between 10 - 50 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
>diagnosed in the United States annually. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
>has not been diagnosed in New Jersey.

For NY:
<http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/hantavirus/docs/fact_sheet.pdf>

>Hantaviruses are a type of virus found in rodents in different parts
>of the world. In the U.S., human hantavirus infections were first
>identified in the southwest in 1993. In recent years, sporadic cases
>have been found in several eastern states including New York. Studies
>have shown that mice are often infected and appear to be the source
>of infection.

and

>The virus is carried by rodents such as mice which are found
>throughout North America. Infected rodents shed the live virus in
>saliva, droppings and urine. Humans are infected when they inhale
>microscopic particles that contain viruses from rodent urine or
>droppings. Insect bites and pets are not believed to play a role
>in hantavirus transmission.

Sukie (not a vet)

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
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 6172]