Only just come across this topic.
Back in March/April 2010 I lost 5 ferrets to this particular virus. My friend in Bradford lost 11 so there's nowt new about it.
The National Ferret Welfare Society actually undertook an investigation - or perhaps I should say the vet who was treating Jean's ferrets set the ball rolling and the NFWS picked up the tab. At the time the chap who had brought the sick ferret to a show insisted it was CDV which both Jean and I disputed as the symptoms weren't right.
It took several weeks before the results of various tests came back from Glasgow and it was identified as Coronavirus. So as I said previously it's nothing new, it's been around for years and it'll still be going in 3, 9 or 12 months time. Just wanted to put the record straight as the NFWS has been accused of not doing anything - as it'd cost the NFWS just under £1K for the investigation and we'd already got the virus had already been identified. It had also been pointed out that we should be helping ferret owners to pay for testing... so far the NFWS has not been approached by any member requesting financial help.
It's been in the USA since the 1990s and as far as I know all their shows are still going ahead but with stringent hygiene practices in place - probably pretty much the same as the NFWS have had in place for 3 years and which has stood us in good stead since 2011. We had the judges and stewards wiping hands between ferrets prior to this but have gone a bit further these days, no walking ferrets, having wipes etc available to the exhibitors should they wish to handle other folks ferrets... basically just common sense.