The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm about the spread of psittacosis, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci), which often comes from birds, as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
An increase in cases from the end of 2023 until today has been noted in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, while five deaths have also been reported.
“Exposure to wild and/or domestic birds was reported in most cases. Human infections occur mainly through contact with secretions from infected birds and are mainly associated with poultry workers, veterinarians, pet bird owners and gardeners in areas where C. psittaci is endemic in the native bird population,” the WHO said.
How the disease spreads
“Psittacosis can easily spread between birds that are in close contact or confined to small spaces,” Donal Bisanzio, PhD, an epidemiologist at RTI International, a research institute in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital.
While not all infected birds will show symptoms, most will have some changes in their behavior.
“Affected birds will often have reduced appetite, lethargy, weight loss, diarrhea (usually with yellowish droppings), eye discharge and respiratory problems. It is also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans from infected birds,” said Bisanzio.
Most people are exposed by breathing dust particles from the feces and respiratory secretions of infected birds, which contain the bacteria.
Symptoms and diagnosis
People infected with C. psittaci usually develop flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, diarrhea, cough, muscle pain and fatigue, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms usually begin within five to 14 days after exposure. If left untreated, the disease can develop into pneumonia.
“Parrot fever” as the disease is also called can be diagnosed by collecting sputum, blood or cultures of the nose and/or throat.
After diagnosis, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat the infection and relieve symptoms, according to the CDC.
Most people make a full recovery, but in rare cases the infection can cause complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the heart valves, hepatitis and neurological problems. With antibiotics, less than one in 100 cases are fatal.
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