From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-15 20:51:43 UTC
Subject: RE: Reactions, Genetics, and Rabies Re: [ferrethealth] Digest 15 May 2005
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8249588.1116190303526.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
> Most localities follow the recommendations of the annually released
> Compendium on Rabies Control, which recommends that a properly vaccinated ferret
> undergo the same quarantine as a properly vaccinated dog or cat. It is indeed known
> to be preventive for the disease when the ferret is properly vaccinated.
> Check with your local health authorities to determine if that is the case in your
> area. If not, you may be able to get it changed to do so.
> Dr. Ruth
> ********************************************
> Puppies kiss better than most people.
Dr. Ruth makes a truly excellent point there.
There are so many areas where the people themselves took it upon themselves to improve regualtions and to educate the local medical personnel -- a feat which can now be best done with these two documents below and other supporting documentation (See sites like the CDC site to start searches.)
http://www.avma.org/pubhlth/rabcont.asp The Compendium of Animal Rabies Control
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/Ques&Ans/q&a.htm Easy to read rabies Q&A
I know that we had to send documentation to all of the area hospitals, and we repeated that later when a emergency physician's journal article came out which was full of errors (stating that there was no ferret rabies vax, no CDC testing, and not even knowing about the compendium or checking with state public health vets).
In some states where local departments have more power than state health departments education becomes even more important because those locations are more likley to have personnel who simply don't know better YET so your POLITE and informative letter could mean a great deal if that is the situation in your case. These states pretty well clumped in the south with a few in the heartland back in 1998, but I do NOT know about now.
Some education to save ferret lives is just best done in a friendly and respectful fashion in one's own backyard!
Sukie
(not a vet)