SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Some information about what is currently known.
Many rescues in Canada are shutting their doors to new rats until more information is known about the situation in the USA and how widespread it is.
(I believe that this virus has been found in the past in wild rat colonies living in some large USA cities, and is also found in Europe and Asia)
Quote from Shelagh Hall:
SEOUL VIRUS
At this point, I am sure even here in Canada people have seen the articles for Seoul Virus discovered in the US. The strain of hantavirus that has been found for the first time in pet rats in the US was first discovered by a doctor in a hospital who tested his sick patient for hantavirus and it came back as Seoul virus, a very rare virus. This rattery in Wisconsin and 2 bigger ratteries in Illinois were the initial starting point for a CDC investigation. Unfortunately with ratteries swapping rats amongst themselves the CDC is now tracking back trying to find the “patient zero” and also to stop the spread. A lot of ratteries have been exposed, and are in lockdown while testing is done on their rats. The sad fact is if the human tests positive for Seoul, or even some of the rats test positive ALL the rats will be humanely euthanized to stop the spread. The virus is persistent in rats, often they show no symptoms and they can infect people (thankfully there’s no person to person infection). Most people will show no symptoms or will have mild symptoms but the immuno-compromised can get quite ill and there’s even a 1% mortality rate.
A LOT of ratteries are shutting down in the US, testing on their own just to make sure, as it really is the safest and most ethical/responsible thing to do.
I myself am going to be shutting things down, just in case some rattery in Ontario has decided to import from one of these many affected ratteries in the US (at last count they are looking at 12 states now) Eventually the CDC will have the total picture and we will know if there’s any issues in Ontario but until then, no more in or out after today.
There are facilities who can blood test or possibly even urine test for Seoul antibodies in rats but as of now the CDC is ensuring their tests are completely accurate. Once I have further information I will add to this post. Ask any questions and I will attempt to get answers for you.
Quote: At present the states the authorities are "looking into are Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah."
Quote: ... from what I understand the real issue is IF the breeder or owner tosses out litter from a cage clean, a wild rat gets into the bag and is exposed then the wildies will spread it like wildfire. The rats continue to shed this virus possibly infecting the humans around them, all their life so they sadly have to end those lives to stop the spread.
Many rescues in Canada are shutting their doors to new rats until more information is known about the situation in the USA and how widespread it is.
(I believe that this virus has been found in the past in wild rat colonies living in some large USA cities, and is also found in Europe and Asia)
Quote from Shelagh Hall:
SEOUL VIRUS
At this point, I am sure even here in Canada people have seen the articles for Seoul Virus discovered in the US. The strain of hantavirus that has been found for the first time in pet rats in the US was first discovered by a doctor in a hospital who tested his sick patient for hantavirus and it came back as Seoul virus, a very rare virus. This rattery in Wisconsin and 2 bigger ratteries in Illinois were the initial starting point for a CDC investigation. Unfortunately with ratteries swapping rats amongst themselves the CDC is now tracking back trying to find the “patient zero” and also to stop the spread. A lot of ratteries have been exposed, and are in lockdown while testing is done on their rats. The sad fact is if the human tests positive for Seoul, or even some of the rats test positive ALL the rats will be humanely euthanized to stop the spread. The virus is persistent in rats, often they show no symptoms and they can infect people (thankfully there’s no person to person infection). Most people will show no symptoms or will have mild symptoms but the immuno-compromised can get quite ill and there’s even a 1% mortality rate.
A LOT of ratteries are shutting down in the US, testing on their own just to make sure, as it really is the safest and most ethical/responsible thing to do.
I myself am going to be shutting things down, just in case some rattery in Ontario has decided to import from one of these many affected ratteries in the US (at last count they are looking at 12 states now) Eventually the CDC will have the total picture and we will know if there’s any issues in Ontario but until then, no more in or out after today.
There are facilities who can blood test or possibly even urine test for Seoul antibodies in rats but as of now the CDC is ensuring their tests are completely accurate. Once I have further information I will add to this post. Ask any questions and I will attempt to get answers for you.
Quote: At present the states the authorities are "looking into are Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah."
Quote: ... from what I understand the real issue is IF the breeder or owner tosses out litter from a cage clean, a wild rat gets into the bag and is exposed then the wildies will spread it like wildfire. The rats continue to shed this virus possibly infecting the humans around them, all their life so they sadly have to end those lives to stop the spread.
