Richard G. Hunter, Ph.D., Deputy State Health Officer through Richard G. Hopkins, M.D., M.S.P.H., State Epidemiologist, 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700; my note preceding their text, and excerpts: Letter (which is a photostat of an (undated) "Rabies Quarantine Period Now Recognized for Ferrets" memo sent/to be sent to Florida County Health Department Administrators/Directors) begins with a summary of the shedding studies done, mentions of U.S. Public Health Service, CDC, and other collaborators, and the positive response to those studies by the NASPHV. "...Therefore the conclusion has been that the same quarantine and observation period is appropriate as for dogs and cats. The Florida Department of Health and its multiagency Rabies Control Advisory Committee has now endorsed the recommendations of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Inc., which will be published soon in the 1998 edition of the National Compendium of Animal Rabies Control. Effective as of this date, all county health departments need to quarantine ferrets that bite or expose people and observe them for ten (10) days (unless owners want to have them tested for rabies). Additionally, a ferret bitten by a rabid or suspect rabid animal must be quarantined for 45 days if the ferret has been appropriately vaccinated for rabies by a licenced veterinarian or 180 days if the ferret is not currently vaccinated. County health departments should notify local animal agencies and Humane Society affiliates in their jurisdiction about this change in departmental policy. These changes will be detailed in the 1997 Florida Rabies Prevention and Control Compendium now being printed. If you have questions about this issue, please call Dr. William Bigler, Special Studies Epidemiologist, Dr. Steven Wiersma, Deputy State Epidemiologist or Dr. Richard S. Hopkins, Bureau Chief, State Epidemiologist at (850) 488-2905 or SunCom 278-2905." Sukie [Posted in FML issue 2168]