Since we first heard about the virus outbreak in 2 states last month, 13 others have been affected along with many others that we are sure will pop up over the next few weeks. There have been calls with the CDC between several rat breeders, vets, health departments and others involved in the rat fancy. We have been waiting for them to post their approved transcripts so we can link them.
Here are a few transcripts that we have been able to find so far:
The Rat Guide is a great resource for general care of your rats. They have been involved with the CDC as well. Rat Guide Seoul Virus Update
The AFRMA also has been keeping people up to date on their site with links to articles of interest
Here is an interesting write up from Agrinews. They spoke with two of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine faculty members that assisted in the initial investigation. Rat Virus illustrates need for unified health approach
The CDC is still updating their site as they gain more information. From seeing people who have confirmed their positive results in some of the breeders groups we follow in the past 4 days, the CDC site is not quite up to date as of 2/13/17 but we do expect them to continue to update it and put the factual information out there as soon as they have it compiled. They still do not know where the original rat 'Rat Zero' came from. CDC SEOUL VIRUS UPDATES
[Update 2/24/17] Here are a few more write ups about the virus I have found on the web:
For those of you who like to read more of the scientific studies of the wild populations:
TESTING:
Many Ratteries use Idexx to test for many viruses that are common in the rat fancy. They have a simple paper test (Opti-Spot) that collects blood on it. At the beginning of the testing the CDC was not accepting these tests as approved testing.
As for Our Crazy Rat Adventure, well, we spoke with 2 different vets. Both of them said they didn't feel the need for us to be tested. Especially since we have not brought in anything from out of the state since December 2014. We were thankful for their assurances but asked them to let us know if they hear anything, to keep us informed. On January 27th, 2017, we received a call from one of our vets, who truly LOVES rats. He continued to do a bit of research for us and found out their lab (Idexx) was working on another test to detect the Seoul Virus. There was an option for us to send in buccal swabs and a fecal sample for 1/2 of our mischief. This was a research offer that we jumped at the chance for, to not only confirm we were negative, but also to possibly help discover another (less invasive) testing method that could be used to determine if a rat may carry the virus. The results came back a little over a week later. The samples we sent in were negative. Since this was not an approved test (yet) we do not have any confirmation it was negative but the phone call. However, this did assure us of our current rats' health. (Again the vets did not feel we needed to be tested) We do hope by sending in the samples it helps them discover a new testing method.
As of February 13th, 2017, we were pleased to find out that the company Idexx now has the approval of the CDC to run the Opti-spot testing for Seoul Virus. This will help make sure all new rats added are clear from Seoul Virus. We are watching and waiting to see if they will also make available the test they did on our mischief. In the meantime, our hearts go out to all of those ratteries effected by this.
Here are a few transcripts that we have been able to find so far:
- This call on February 1st, 2017 was transcribed by the owner of Camarattery.
- Colorado Health Dept publish theirs. Feb 3, 2017 Summary of call
- Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) January 31, 2017 Seoul Virus Conference Call Notes
The Rat Guide is a great resource for general care of your rats. They have been involved with the CDC as well. Rat Guide Seoul Virus Update
The AFRMA also has been keeping people up to date on their site with links to articles of interest
Here is an interesting write up from Agrinews. They spoke with two of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine faculty members that assisted in the initial investigation. Rat Virus illustrates need for unified health approach
The CDC is still updating their site as they gain more information. From seeing people who have confirmed their positive results in some of the breeders groups we follow in the past 4 days, the CDC site is not quite up to date as of 2/13/17 but we do expect them to continue to update it and put the factual information out there as soon as they have it compiled. They still do not know where the original rat 'Rat Zero' came from. CDC SEOUL VIRUS UPDATES
[Update 2/24/17] Here are a few more write ups about the virus I have found on the web:
- The World Health Organization - Seoul Virus - United States and Canada
- The News-Gazette - Pet Talk: UI Experts talk about Seoul Virus
- Washington State Veterinary Medical Association (Our State's Public Notice): Seoul Virus Outbreak in Pet Rats and Humans
For those of you who like to read more of the scientific studies of the wild populations:
- Here is a link that will to take you to many others that are cited within the article. Some studies show finding Seoul Virus in the rat population of many states dating back to 1982 US National Library of Medicine NIH
- Here is a study from the CDC that covers a Twenty-Year Summary of Surveillance for Human Hantavirus Infections, United States
- The Journal of Virology's article Migration of Norway Rats Resulted in the Worldwide Distribution of Seoul Hantavirus Today
- The UK has been dealing with Seoul Virus (SEOV) in the pet rat population for many years. We are just beginning to read more information of how they have been dealing with it within the fancy. Here is their Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group's Qualitative assessment of the risk that Hantaviruses present to the UK population
TESTING:
Many Ratteries use Idexx to test for many viruses that are common in the rat fancy. They have a simple paper test (Opti-Spot) that collects blood on it. At the beginning of the testing the CDC was not accepting these tests as approved testing.
As for Our Crazy Rat Adventure, well, we spoke with 2 different vets. Both of them said they didn't feel the need for us to be tested. Especially since we have not brought in anything from out of the state since December 2014. We were thankful for their assurances but asked them to let us know if they hear anything, to keep us informed. On January 27th, 2017, we received a call from one of our vets, who truly LOVES rats. He continued to do a bit of research for us and found out their lab (Idexx) was working on another test to detect the Seoul Virus. There was an option for us to send in buccal swabs and a fecal sample for 1/2 of our mischief. This was a research offer that we jumped at the chance for, to not only confirm we were negative, but also to possibly help discover another (less invasive) testing method that could be used to determine if a rat may carry the virus. The results came back a little over a week later. The samples we sent in were negative. Since this was not an approved test (yet) we do not have any confirmation it was negative but the phone call. However, this did assure us of our current rats' health. (Again the vets did not feel we needed to be tested) We do hope by sending in the samples it helps them discover a new testing method.
As of February 13th, 2017, we were pleased to find out that the company Idexx now has the approval of the CDC to run the Opti-spot testing for Seoul Virus. This will help make sure all new rats added are clear from Seoul Virus. We are watching and waiting to see if they will also make available the test they did on our mischief. In the meantime, our hearts go out to all of those ratteries effected by this.
RSS Feed