The World Health Organization reported on Tuesday that a severe outbreak of psittacosis, also known as parrot fever, has infected several people in several European countries. The outbreak, which was first identified in 2023, has continued into the new year, with five people reported dead, according to The Ultimate News.
Parrot fever, caused by bacteria from the Chlamydia family, spreads through a variety of wild and domesticated birds and poultry. Infected birds may not show symptoms, but they can still shed bacteria through breathing or excretion.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, humans frequently contract parrot fever after inhaling dust particles contaminated with infected birds’ secretions. Individuals can also become ill if they are bitten by a bird or if a bird’s beak comes into direct contact with their mouth. The disease is not transmitted through the consumption of infected animals.
Human-to-human transmission is possible, but it is uncommon, according to studies. According to the World Health Organization, the majority of recent cases involved exposure to infected domesticated or wild birds.
Most people who contract parrot fever have mild symptoms that appear five to 14 days after contact with an infected bird. Symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, dry cough, fever, and chills. Antibiotics are effective at treating infections, and human fatalities are uncommon.
Austria, which typically records two cases of the disease per year, reported 14 confirmed cases in 2023, with an additional four cases this year as of March 4. These incidents are unrelated, and none of the victims reported traveling abroad or encountering wild birds.
Every year, Denmark sees 15 to 30 human cases, the majority of which are caused by contact with pet birds or hobby birds like racing pigeons. As of February 27, Denmark had confirmed 23 cases in the outbreak. However, public health officials believe the actual number of cases is much higher, according to the World Health Organization.
In Denmark, 17 people have been hospitalized, 15 of whom have been diagnosed with pneumonia, and four have died.
In Denmark, at least one person got parrot fever from a pet bird. Among the 15 other cases where exposure information was available, 12 people reported contact with wild birds, primarily through bird feeders. Surprisingly, three cases had no documented history of contact with birds of any kind.
In Germany, 14 cases of parrot fever were confirmed in 2023, with five more reported this year. Nearly all of those affected developed pneumonia, with 16 requiring hospitalization.
Five people in Germany reported being exposed to ill pet birds or chickens, out of 19 total cases.
Since 2017, Sweden has seen an increase in parrot fever cases. Notably, in late November and early December, it recorded an unusually high number of cases, 26 in total. However, this year has seen a decrease in cases, with only 13 reported, which is lower than the same timeframe in the previous five years.
Similarly, the Netherlands has seen a surge in cases, with 21 reported from late December to February 29. According to the World Health Organization, this figure represents twice as many cases as were recorded during the same period in previous years. Typically, the Netherlands reports about nine cases per year.
WHO stated that it will continue to monitor the outbreak.