I heard the story on the radio so I couldn’t hit the “rewind” button. I really need Tivo in my car. Fortunately, the reporter said the word four times during the broadcast and by the third time I was convinced I was indeed hearing it correctly.
Yes, the Swine Flu has finally hit the Portland metro. But not just in the pedestrian call-in-sick, drink fluids, wear a mask, and don’t touch any doorknobs sort of way. Determined to embrace quirkiness and “keep Portland weird” (an actual motto, movement, and Facebook group), we can now boast the very first reported case of H1N1…in a ferret.
Yes, read that again. A ferret.
Apparently a local family – of humans – was recently sick with the Swine Flu and then noticed their little Mustela putorius furo was coughing and sneezing and had a temperature (I don't want to know). Their vet and then the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the interspecies diagnosis. The ferret is said to be recovering. No doubt with a stack of Sudukos, Popsicles on demand, aloe-infused Puffs, and a full line-up of inspiring make-over shows on TLC.
I don’t want to even contemplate beyond this sentence how the virus got transmitted from family to ferret. In my Yahoo search on “ferret swine flu Portland” I was relieved to discover that dogs and cats are not susceptible to H1N1. My kitten cuddling shall continue in earnest. However, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association cautions to “follow standard flu prevention protocols when handling your pet pig.” And “If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, handle your ferret sparingly.” Honestly, I don’t think I’d want to handle one any other way.
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