I don’t know if this is part of the reasoning but ferrets actually have an immune system that is very similar to humans and are used in medical research for that very reason. When I had one I always had to be careful with her when I was sick because she would catch it otherwise. Ferret sneezes are surprising and adorable.
Having a ferret whose muzzle is covered in feral rat blood cuddling up with traumatized children sounds like the first chapter of The Hantavirus Horde
I don’t know if this is part of the reasoning but ferrets actually have an immune system that is very similar to humans and are used in medical research for that very reason. When I had one I always had to be careful with her when I was sick because she would catch it otherwise. Ferret sneezes are surprising and adorable.