Editing Ferret (section)

==Other uses==
Because they share many anatomical and physiological features with humans, ferrets are extensively used as [[animal testing|experimental subjects]] in biomedical research.  Fields such as virology, reproductive physiology, anatomy, endocrinology and neuroscience all rely on ferrets<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crawford |first1=Richard L. |last2=Adams |first2=Kristina M. |date=2006 |url=http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/Ferrets06/ferrets.htm |title=Information Resources on the Care and Welfare of Ferrets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213092535/http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/Ferrets06/ferrets.htm |archive-date=2011-02-13 |publisher=USDA Animal Welfare Information Center}}</ref> for studies into [[cardiovascular disease]], nutrition, respiratory diseases such as [[SARS]] and human influenza, airway physiology,<ref>{{Cite journal |pmid=19136404 |year=2009 |last1=Abanses |first1=J. C. |title=Vicks Vapo ''Rub'' induces mucin secretion, decreases ciliary beat frequency, and increases tracheal mucus transport in the ferret trachea |journal=Chest |volume=135 |issue=1 |pages=143–8 |last2=Arima |first2=S |last3=Rubin |first3=B. K.|doi=10.1378/chest.08-0095}}</ref> cystic fibrosis and gastrointestinal disease.

Ferrets are a particularly important animal model for human [[influenza]],<ref name="Matsuoka2009">{{Cite book |doi=10.1002/9780471729259.mc15g02s13|pmid=19412910|chapter=The Ferret Model for Influenza|pages={{awrap|15G.2.1}}–{{awrap|15G.2.29}}|year=2009|last1=Matsuoka |first1=Y. |last2=Lamirande |first2=E. W. |last3=Subbarao |first3=K. |title=Current Protocols in Microbiology|volume=Chapter 15 |isbn=978-0471729259|s2cid=43613423}}</ref><ref name="Maher2004">{{cite journal|vauthors=Maher JA, DeStefano J |title=The ferret: an animal model to study influenza virus |journal=Lab Animal|year=2004|volume=33|issue=9|pages=50–53|pmid=15457202|doi=10.1038/laban1004-50|citeseerx=10.1.1.632.711 |s2cid=30541775 }}</ref> and have been used to study the 2009 H1N1 ([[swine flu]]) virus.<ref name="van2010">{{Cite journal |doi=10.1086/651132|pmid=20187747|title=Severity of Pneumonia Due to New H1N1 Influenza Virus in Ferrets is Intermediate between That Due to Seasonal H1N1 Virus and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus|journal=Journal of Infectious Diseases|volume=201|issue=7|pages=993–9|year=2010|last1=Van Den Brand |first1=J. M. A. |last2=Stittelaar |first2=K. J. |last3=Van Amerongen |first3=G. |last4=Rimmelzwaan |first4=G. F. |last5=Simon |first5=J. |last6=De Wit |first6=E. |last7=Munster |first7=V. |last8=Bestebroer |first8=T. |last9=Fouchier |first9=R. A. M. |last10=Kuiken |first10=T. |last11=Osterhaus |first11=A. D. M. E. |pmc=7110095|doi-access=free }}</ref> Ferrets inoculated intra-nasally with human naso-pharyngeal washes develop an influenza transmissible to other cage mates and human investigators.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Wilson |last2=Andrewes |first2=C. H. |author2-link=Christopher Andrewes |last3=Laidlaw |first3=P.P. |title=A virus obtained from influenza patients |journal=Lancet |date=8 July 1933 |volume=222 |issue=5732 |pages=66–68 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(00)78541-2|doi-access=free }}</ref> A very small experimental study of ferrets found that a nasal spray effectively blocked the transmission of the [[SARS-CoV-2]] [[coronavirus]] that causes [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite news |last=McNeil | first=Donald G. Jr. |title=Nasal Spray Halts Covid in Ferrets, Study Finds |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/health/coronavirus-ferrets-vaccine-spray.html |access-date=6 November 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=6 November 2020 |archive-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106002935/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/health/coronavirus-ferrets-vaccine-spray.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{needs update|date=March 2024}}

In the UK, ferret racing is often a feature of rural fairs or festivals, with people placing small bets on ferrets that run set routes through pipes and wire mesh. Although financial bets are placed, the event is primarily for entertainment purposes as opposed to 'serious' betting sports such as horse or greyhound racing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ferret Racing |url=http://www.countrymanfairs.co.uk/family-entertainment/ferret-racing |website=Countrymanfairs.co.uk |access-date=2015-04-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423173347/http://www.countrymanfairs.co.uk/family-entertainment/ferret-racing |archive-date=2015-04-23 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ferret Racing – Starescue – STA Ferret Rescue|url=http://www.starescue.org.uk/racing/4579482855|website=Starescue.org.uk|access-date=2015-04-19|archive-date=2015-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423055435/http://www.starescue.org.uk/racing/4579482855|url-status=live}}</ref>