Urgent warning over 'bird chlamydia' following deaths of five humans in 'unusual' outbreak sweeping Europe

daily mail ^

[algore]

Five Europeans have died in an avian chlamydia outbreak that has spooked health chiefs.

World Health Organization (WHO) officials issued an urgent alert over an 'unusual' rise in humans getting psittacosis in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden.

The flu-like illness, nicknamed parrot fever, is caused by a type of chlamydia rife in birds.

It is different to the strain responsible for the human STI, and is not spread sexually.

Psittacosis typically triggers mild symptoms like headaches and a cough. Yet it can lead to severe pneumonia and meningitis in severe cases.

Surveillance data shows rates of psittacosis, sometimes called ornithosis, are up to seven times higher than expected in Austria.

The WHO said: 'While birds that carry this disease could be crossing international borders, there is currently no indication of this disease being spread by humans nationally or internationally.

Infected birds don't always show signs of being ill. Sick birds may have no appetite, inflamed eyes, breathing difficulties and diarrhoea.

Parrot fever is a respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydophila psittaci.

The bug can infect people exposed to infected birds, particularly parrots, parakeets, budgerigars and cockatiels.

Pigeons, doves, ducks, turkeys and chickens can be infected, too.

Infection commonly occurs through breathing in airborne bacteria from bird faeces, feather dust or respiratory secretions.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Lol!... Sorry.