American Ferret Association: ADV Policy

ADV Policy

ADV Policy in Effect for All AFA Sanctioned and Sponsored Shows
Last Update: January 2025
Previous Updates : March 2011 and September 2002

The following text is the current ADV POLICY as of January 2025

Beginning with the 2025 Spring Nationals in March, AFA will implement a new vaccination waiver process to ensure the health and safety of all ferrets at our events.

All exhibitors and attendees bringing ferrets to AFA-sanctioned shows must:

Complete and sign a waiver affirming that:
- All ferrets in their care are healthy and free of visible illness (e.g., runny nose, sneezing, coughing).
- No ferrets in their household have been exposed to communicable diseases (such as Aleutian Disease (ADV), Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), Rabies, etc.) in the past four months.
- All ferrets are up-to-date on required vaccinations, including:
  - CDV: PureVax, NeoVac FD, NOBIVACŽ or Puppy DPv
  - Rabies: IMRABŽ 3, Defensor 1 or 3, or NOBIVACŽ 1 or 3.
  - Alternatively, a recent titer test (within 12 months of show date) for CDV may be presented.
Provide proof of vaccinations/titer status at show check-in.
If a ferret is unvaccinated due to a documented reaction, a signed note from a veterinarian is required.
Note: Initial rabies vaccinations must be administered at least two weeks before the event.

While no positive ADV cases have been reported in over 15 years through AFA-approved testing, the possibility of undetected cases underscores the importance of vigilance. AFA strongly encourages all participants to practice safe ferret handling habits, including:

Sanitizing hands before and after handling ferrets from other households.
Quarantining new ferrets before introducing them to your group.
Ensuring all vaccinations are current and, if possible, testing for ADV prior to mingling.

Legal and Disciplinary Action

To protect the ferret community, owners who fail to provide proof of proper vaccinations or knowingly expose other ferrets to communicable diseases at AFA events may face legal and disciplinary consequences.

We are confident these changes will enhance the safety, inclusivity, and educational value of AFA-sanctioned ferret shows. Thank you for your continued commitment to responsible ferret ownership and for helping us build a stronger, healthier community.

The following text was the ADV POLICY on March 1, 2011 - no longer in effect

The American Ferret Association is extremely concerned about the dangers of Aleutian Disease Virus (ADV), a communicable parvo virus that affects ferrets. To promote the safety of ferrets at shows and events, and to help educate the public about this serious virus, the AFA began requiring testing for ADV with the Holiday Ferret Expo on December 8, 2001. For all AFA sanctioned shows contracted after March 1, 2011, the following ADV policy is in effect as a requirement for entrance to shows by exhibitors and their ferrets. Learn more about what ADV is and what testing options are available.

ADV POLICY

All ferrets at an AFA show must provide proof of negative Aleutian's Disease Virus (ADV) testing within twelve months of the show date. Testing must be by the United CEP Test or the Avecon ELISA (saliva) Test and results must be:

on tester's original letterhead;
testing date must be on the letter and within the stated period;
ferret names must be on the testing result's letter and names must match show entry.

→ Avecon Point of Care Tests (POCT instant tests) are NOT ACCEPTABLE.
→ A letter from your vet is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
→ Faxes or copies are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Notarized copies with raised seal are acceptable.

ADV Waiver Statement

The following waiver must be signed by each person bringing ferrets into an AFA show hall. (Forms are available in the show packet for each AFA event).

No ferret that I am bringing with me into the show hall today has ever had a definitive positive test result on the United CEP or Avecon ELISA saliva test (POCT and ELISA blood tests are not acceptable).

If in the past 4 months a ferret from my household (shelter/facility/ferretry) has had a definitive positive test result on the United CEP or Avecon ELISA saliva test (POCT and ELISA blood tests are not acceptable), I understand that all ferrets in the same household (shelter/facility/ferretry) are considered as being exposed. I also understand that I can not show or bring any ferrets from said household into the show hall today, regardless of their testing status.

I also understand that just because all ferrets in the show hall today have been tested for ADV within the twelve months prior to the show, that this is not a guarantee of safety. I understand that the test is only as good as the day it was taken and I still need to practice SAFE FERRET habits at all times.

Questions can be directed to afa@ferret.org.

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