Five Dead In Europe In 'Parrot Fever’ Outbreak: Everything To Know About The Disease

To prevent this illness, one must follow good precautions when handling and cleaning birds and cages. It should be noted that an infected bird may not always seem sick, but it can shed the bacteria when it breathes or poops.

The latest in the wave of illnesses engulfing the world is an infectious disease called 'psittacosis', of which there has been a deadly outbreak reported in Europe. The bacterial infection -- also known as 'parrot fever' -- has affected people living in several European countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday. According to reports, the outbreak was initially noted in 2023; it continued through the beginning of this year, having claimed the lives of five persons thus far. Exposure to wild and/or domestic birds was reported in most of the cases. The WHO stated that in February 2024, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and The Netherlands reported through the 'Early Warning and Response System' (EWRS) of the European Union that there has been an increase in the psittacosis cases observed in 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, particularly marked since November-December 2023.

What Is Psittacosis?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chlamydia psittaci is a type of bacteria that infects birds. While it is not very common, the bacteria can also infect people and cause a disease called 'psittacosis', which can cause mild illness or pneumonia (lung infection). To prevent this illness, one must follow good precautions when handling and cleaning birds and cages. It should be noted that an infected bird may not always seem sick, but it can shed the bacteria when it breathes or poops.

How Do Human Infections Occur?

According to the WHO, human infections occur mainly through contact with secretions from infected birds. It is mostly associated with those who work with pet birds, poultry workers, veterinarians, pet bird owners, and gardeners in areas where C. psittaci is 'epizootic' in the native bird population.

Transmission

WHO states that C. psittaci is associated with more than 450 avian species and has also been found in various mammalian species like dogs, cats, horses, swine, and reptiles. Birds, especially pet birds (psittacine birds, finches, canaries, and pigeons), are most frequently involved in causing human psittacosis. Disease transmission to humans occurs mainly through inhalation of airborne particles from respiratory secretions, dried feces, or feather dust. Direct contact with birds is not required for infection to occur, it adds.

Symptoms

It must be known that psittacosis is a mild illness, whose symptoms include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Dry cough

Most people begin developing symptoms within 5 to 14 days of being exposed to the bacteria. Prompt antibiotic treatment is effective; it prevents complications such as pneumonia.

WHO Advisory

WHO recommends the following measures for prevention and control of psittacosis:

1. Increasing the awareness of clinicians to test suspected cases of C. psittaci for diagnosis using RT-PCR.
2. Increasing awareness among caged or domestic bird owners that the pathogen can be carried without apparent illness.
3. Quarantining newly-acquired birds. If any bird is sick, contact the veterinarian for an examination.
4. Conducting surveillance of C. psittaci in wild birds, potentially including existing specimens collected for other reasons.
5. Encouraging people with pet birds to keep cages clean; position cages so that droppings cannot spread among them and avoid over-crowded cages.
6. Promoting good hygiene, including frequent hand washing when handling birds, their feces, and their environments.
7. Standard infection-control practices and droplet transmission precautions be implemented for hospitalised patients.