How does a ferret get ECE?
The virus is transmitted by infected body fluids and can be spread through the air or on clothing on tiny fluid particles or by contact with an infected ferret. It is highly contagious. You could carry ECE home with you from a petstore, vet clinic, etc. and not know it. Your ferrets will show symptoms in between 12 and 72 hours, if infected. Even a healthy-looking ferret can be a carrier — a ferret who had ECE can “shed” the virus for at least 12 months (research continues to see if this period is longer). So if your ferret has had ECE, keep in mind that your ferret can infect others for a year or possibly more. So if you are visiting another ferret, adopting from a shelter, or going to a show, ASK what the ECE status is. Is my ferret in danger? ECE has appeared and spread throughout the United States including Texas. The younger your ferret is, the fewer the symptoms and the shorter the duration of the disease. If treated properly, the fatality rate is less than 5%, and those fatalit
