I've had rats and kids for 4 years now, and no problems have ever cropped up between them, so I was surprised to find an article warning about the risks of kids having rats. Basically a pediatrician in Montreal is advocating for banning rats from being sold because they can carry a bacterium in there mouths that cause a serious illness. He's worried about rat bite fever, a zoonoses (transmissible to humans from animals) caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis, transmitted from rat bites or mouth to mouth contact with your pet (yes, kissing).
The disease sounds ugly, but the transmission sounds rare, and a ferret can also spread it. My rats were well socialized when young, and have never even offered to bite, and I don't recommend kissing animals. I've also always advocated for washing after handling any animals, especially the smaller "exotics", anyhow. Zoonoses exist in ALL animals, it is far better to find out what is out there and educate yourself on how to decrease your risk. Especially now, when hantavirus (from mice), west nile virus (from birds), etc are all in the news.
Final word? Have your pets seen by your vet, ask questions about what they can carry and what you can do to decrease the risks, and follow through with good hygiene anytime dealing with pets.
Have a great weekend. jec
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