North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Lucky Pittman <lucky.pittman@murraystate.edu>]

At 09:11 AM 7/5/2004 -0400, you wrote:

> I don't know whether rabies is common in squirrels.
Very, very uncommon.  In fact, the likelihood of any rodent, with the 
exception of groundhogs(which tend to have run-ins with skunks on occasion) 
is so slim that the CDC's recommendations are NOT to undergo rabies 
prophylaxis in cases in which a rodent(rat, squirrel, chipmunk, etc.) bites 
someone and then escapes and is unavailable for rabies testing.

 I don't know what else squirrels can carry that people can catch.

Tularemia, plague, and a few other zoonotic diseases, but again, those are 
pretty uncommon, and thorough cooking would negate any risk, other than 
exposure via fresh cuts or open wounds on your hands while dressing or 
otherwise preparing the carcass.


Louis L. "Lucky" Pittman, Jr., DVM
Veterinary Pathologist/ Dept. Chairman
Murray St. Univ.-Breathitt Veterinary Ctr.
Hopkinsville, KY