Message Number: SG12113 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-01-03 02:28:26 UTC
Subject: RE: Help With Unknown Deadly Virus
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <431674.1104719306596.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

I got a short note from Dr. Bruce Williams.

He said to definitely not discount the possibility of poisoning in this shelter because it fits what occurred too well, and to definitely be sure to have the department of health involved rapidly since there may still be risk, including in a poisoning situation.

> Sounds like someone should call the public
>health folks if there are humans involved.

He said to let people know that the Black Footed Ferret world has lost its renowned pathologist, Dr. Tom Thorne. This is very upsetting; I hadn't spoken to him since the Sybille days but he was a wonderful man.

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2004412310301

Because it was partly a personal letter I am paraphrasing. Also, he wanted to know about locations and if CO poisoning has been considered. (He did not see the posts, being short on time.)

>Fire engine red presentation (and multiple
>species affected) suggests carbon monoxide
>poisoning - the buildup of carboxyhemoglobin
>in the blood results in bright red blood and
>cadavers - "cherry red" is how we learned about
>it in school.

I'll have to go back and refresh myself if anything was put in later whcih would change the scenario; I seem to recall some animals lived outside but I could be entirely wrong.

Dr. Williams did not have time to get to this discussion and hadn't gotten to his e-mail so was replying to my phone message which only went into the early letters.