Ferret dies from H1N1 in Nebraska

[Tressie]

Please get vaccinated.

A ferret has died from H1N1 when the human family became infected:

new.khastv.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=18916&storytopic=4

Tressie

[mindy]

i finally made the decision to suck it up and live through the pain and get the shot...i found out that the vaccine won't be available here until nov 27th!! there are already confirmed cases here in baie verte and i am super scared now!

[airy]

My heart aches for that family who lost their Stormy , Like Mindy I am super scared now. Where I am we cannot get the shot until November 9th, There are rumors that there are cases of H1N1 in this town, but nothing has been confirmed to my knowledge. My question is, after we get the shots, can we still pick it up and bring it home to the ferrets?? Like, could we still carry it but it would only be dormant..like some TB cases?? Immune but still carry it? Also, now I am going to be even terrified to letting people into my home as many are opposed to these vaccinations, I just wish there was a vaccination for ferrets that we could all get for ours, but obviously that isn't thinking realistically

[Tressie]

My understanding is that it takes approximately 10-14 days after receiving the vaccine for the body to establish full immunity against the virus. Once that happens there isn't much virus kicking around on the host (i.e. YOU) to be transmitting it to others.

In other words, once you are immune you can't really transmit it to others.

The Catch-22 is not to acquire it in the intervening time before you have protective immunity. Key will be to wash hands (yes, it does help!) or use a hand sanitizer after you've been around other people; refrain from physically touching someone obviously sick; and politely ask anyone with a sniffle not to visit until they are better.

Hope this alleviates some of your worries.

Tressie