From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2004-03-30 02:57:42 UTC
Subject: MUMS Bill - Important National Legislation that could benefit ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <cb.3f068ff7.2d9a371b@cs.com>
Hi Sukie,
The folks at North Carolina State University
are the "tick gurus." I would check with them
as to what tick disease test would be accurate
for use in ferrets. Also Idexx makes a snap combo test
that test for heartworms, Lyme disease, and Ehrlichiosis.
But if you want to test for Babesia and other tick diseases
the folks at North carolina State's vet school would be the
ones to contact.
Jerry Murray, DVM
To: FML <ferret-list@cunyvm.cuny.edu>,
"Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>,
"IFC List" <co-list@yahoogroups.com>,
"CSI List" <CarpetSharksInk@yahoogroups.com>,
ADVList <advferret@yahoogroups.com>
From: "Danee DeVore" <DaneeDV@aol.com>
Message-ID: <4068E226.9070107@aol.com>
Permission to crosspost this post to other lists is granted and even
encouraged.
Currently, there is a bill being considered by the Congress that could
potentially benefit ferrets. It is the Minor Use and Minor Species
Animal Health Act, and is designed to promote development of drug
treatments for rare animals and rare diseases. And, while we know that
ferrets are not rare animals, they are defined in the bill by exclusion
as a minor species.
This bill, if passed, will benefit many animals by providing incentives
for drug companies to work on treatments and vaccines for animal
diseases that would not be profitable enough to the drug companies to
merit a company's investment in traditional development. The
legislation would establish new options for lawfully marketing these new
animal drugs and would make available incentives, such as grants, for
certain drugs for minor species and uses.
The US Senate has already passed the bill by a unanimous vote, and it
has gone to the House of Representatives for consideration. It is
important that people let their Congresspeople know that this bill needs
to be passed.
As many know, I have a personal interest in seeing ADV research done,
with the hope that a vaccine that would protect ferrets from the disease
will be developed. One of the big things standing in the way of this
happening is cost. The amount needed to develop the vaccine may not be
justified by the profits that could be made from it. So, passage of
this bill might provide help on that front.
But, it will help other with research into other ferrets diseases and
diseases of other animals as well. Therefore, it is beneficial to all
ferret owners and lovers that this bill get passed.
For anyone who wants to read the bill, here is a link to a page with the
text:
http://www.theorator.com/bills108/hr2079.html
Here are 3 other links that provide some commentary and information
about the bill, and how it can be used to benefit all animals, as well
as a sample letter that can be used to send to your Congressperson:
http://www.avma.org/scienact/mums/default.asp
http://www.avma.org/scienact/mums/whitepaper.asp
http://www.avma.org/scienact/mums/you.asp
To find the address of your Representative, check:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Remember, the Senate has already passed this bill, so you only need to
write to your Representative.
--
Danee
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://ferretcongress.org
ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
For more information visit: http://www.ferretadv.com