I have an impending dilemma that I need help with. I've read all I can find from past FML's about ECE, shedding, exposures, etc. - but I'm still uncertain about something. Please help. First - let me say that I have made the personal decision to never intentionally expose any of my ferrets or anyone else's to ECE. Not making any judgements here - that's just my preference. Now - I have a friend that adopted a ferret 3 months ago from a shelter that has had ECE. She was advised at the time to go ahead and expose her other ferret (who was 6 months old at the time) - as the recovery rate is much better for ferrets younger than 2 and older than 4 years. It is unclear whether the adopted ferret had ever actually had ECE - or had just been in the shelter where ECE had been. The shelter owner advised me to NOT bring the shelter ferret into my home. I have 3 ferrets: 2 were adopted - ages approximated at 4-5 and 6-7 years. The other ferret is 2.5 years old - and has had a nephrectomy, partial adrenalectomy, and a history of gastric problems. It was her opinion that Binky (the youngest) to be too potentially fragile to be exposed. Now the friend would like to visit - and bring her kids. I'm not sure what to do. I've read the shedding period is from 6 months up to possibly a year or more. Since it's unclear whether the shelter ferret ever had the virus or not - I'm not sure what the risks are. I don't want to be rude or hurt anyone's feelings, but I'm incredibly overprotective. My roommate and I are about to come to blows over this issue. (She wants the friends to come and stay with us.) I've offered to pay for a hotel room. I'm so stressed - I can't bear the thought of putting my kids through anything I can possibly avoid, particularly something like ECE. Binky's is decidedly fragile - but my other two aren't particularly youngers either. Thanks, Cheryl and the Wrecking Crew - Kelly (old maid cat) "Geez... not *more* of them!" - Duncan "Just don't let 'em eat my cheerios." - Ferris "I don't *do* babysitting." - binky! "Bring Avery on, Mom - I can kick his a** any day!!" [Posted in FML issue 1723]