Mystery Virus: Recommended Treatment and Precautions The green mystery virus that has swept across the eastern seaboard is breaking out again.While it has never completely left the New England / Pennsylvania / Maryland areas, it had died down for a while, at least in Virginia. Many new cases have been reported in the past month in places as far away as New York and Wisconsin. Due to thenumber of sick ferrets, Jodi Schroth has postponed the Susquehanna Valley Ferret Show until October 23, and will be sending out a letter in the next week. The nature of the virus is still unknown. In a recent conversation Dr. Susan Erdman of MIT confirmed the fact that they still have not been able to culture the virus in the lab. The symptoms are, dark to bright green stools, well formed in the mildest cases and liquid in the worst. Ferrets get lethargic and refuse to eat or drink. The older ones frequently die of dehydration. This virus attacks the lining of the intestine and destroys the mucus membranes preventing the absorption of nutrients. The only way to combat the disease is to help the ferrets live through it. 1. They need to be hydrated constantly. 2. They need to be given nutritional supplements - Stat, Nutrical, and Sustacal have all been used successfully. 3. They need to see the vet immediately and be put on an antibiotic - the secondary infections are quite often the killers in the older ferrets. While the antibiotic does not kill the virus, it does prevent secondary infections. 4. They need to be kept warm and dry- one of the first things to go in an older sick ferret is its thermal system. Never leave a sick animal unattended on aheating pad! Check with your vet or local club on a safe procedure. 5 If your ferret survives a moderate to severe form of the virus it is extremely important for them to have follow up blood work done by your vet including CBC, Hepatic function (liver) and for protein absorption. The secondary complications seen in this disease are as lethal as seen in the primary virus. The course of the disease may run from one to three weeks. There are some precautionary measures that you can take to prevent the further spread of the disease. 1. If you are infected and are going where there will be ferrets, shower- put on clean clothes straight from the dryer, and spray your hands and shoes with Nolvasan after you leave the house. 2. If you are coming home from a possibly infected area, take your clothes off in the garage and spray your hands and shoesthoroughly before entering your house. Put the clothes in a plastic bag for the wash. Shower! Ihave used this method suggested by Susan Erdman successfully throughout the whole epidemic with 100% success. Remember, you can carry it on you! There is no way to avoid possible exposure to this disease in a crowd of ferrets, or ferret people. Until there is a cure, or at least a culture of this,people should be advised that when they go to ferret related events, it is at their own risk.Older ferrets should not be brought on outings at this time. Most of the younger animals seem to sail through the virus with minimal discomfort. So far, young kits who are nursing, do not get it until they have been weaned for a week or so. Even then they hardly know they have it. Once they have had it, they are immune from getting it again and will in all probability pass it on to their offspring. We are convinced that simply being exposed to it but not getting it does not constitute immunity, it seems that the animal must show some signs of the disease and survive to be immune. This "stuff" is dogging the two major show circuits. From talking to vets across the country, the evidence is building that it has been around for years. First, in the southern states and now in the north and eastern states. If you do decide to go to a ferret event and take your weasels, do not vaccinate them right before the event. All vaccines weaken the immune system, which will make them more vulnerable, so make sure you vaccinate at least 30 days in advance of the event. There is no blame on any person or organization for this disease,or the spread of it. No one, no matter what club or affiliation they have, would choose to lose a beloved ferret or would wish that fate on anyone else. This "stuff" is defying thebest minds in veterinary medicine. All of the information here is strictly the accumulated knowledge from breeders and shelters all over, plus bits and pieces gathered from vets who have seen it. If you think your ferret has it, please, please, take him to the vet immediately- one day (even a few hours in worst case scenarios) delay could make the difference. Sincerely for The Love of Ferrets, The League of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts [Posted in FML issue 0539]