There has been some confusion about what is flu and what passes between humans and ferrets. Its too bad that absolute rage *usually in private email) has been expressed at those of us who question what this really is. From http://www.netdoor.com/com/entinfo/flu.html by Peter J. Casano, M.D. :THE FLU : :Definition - A specific viral disease characterized by fever, runny nose, :cough, headache, malaise and swollen nose and throat mucous membranes. http://indy.radiology.uiowa.edu/Providers/Publications/RXUpdate/10.October.html Mary Ross, R.Ph., M.B.A. :What is influenza ("FLU")? :A viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs that can :make someone of any age ill. It appears that someone wants this disease to be influenza to implicate people instead of passing it between ferrets. But none of the symptoms listed are influenza symptoms. They could be gastroenteritis if that disease can pass to ferrets. They do point strongly to ECE with no real differences noted. Care should be taken with this disease whether it is ECE or not. We are aware that some vets have discussed seeing ECE showing up in different forms possibly because of mutated viruses. The stomach flu is something else. http://www.uiowa.edu/~famprac/diarr.htm :Vomiting and diarrhea can be caused by a number of illnesses including :the stomach flu, caused by a virus (gastroenteritis), and food poisoning. The comma in this case might confuse that stomach "flu" is gastroenteritis. http://www.nwu.edu/health/flushots.html Northwestern University Health Service :No. Influenza viruses are different from cold viruses or gastroenteritis :(stomach "flu") viruses. We've always heard that the influenza virus can pass between ferrets and humans. We've never heard that gastroenteritis. Could a vet or epidemiologist please confirm whether this virus is also shared between these species or the link between people and ferrets in these cases is co-incidental. There is also confusion about the cold as opposed to flu virus. We hope if people learn that their ferret could be infectious they will not put it into a ferret show just to get a ribbon. Most of us who go to a lot of shows would scratch an entry if it was likely to be any danger in passing any disease. We are also picky about which shows we go to avoiding those with sponsors who don't make what we consider appropriate efforts to reduce the risks. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets http://www.zenferret.com/ mailto:[log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1834]