Repeated high fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing... Can you get this disease if you raise a bird?

Since the beginning of this year, cases of "psittacosis" have been diagnosed in many places. The local CDC immediately conducted case information inquiries, epidemiological investigations, and environmental sample testing, and detected psittacosis Chlamydia in the collected samples. Currently, all cases have recovered after treatment.

What is psittacosis?

What's the connection with parrots?

What do we need to pay attention to?

Psittacosis is a zoonosis. Its pathogen is neither bacteria nor virus, but a chlamydia, Chlamydia psittaci. The pathogen is mainly transmitted between birds and can be transmitted from infected animals to humans under certain conditions. Because it was initially found in people who play with parrots, it was named psittacosis. Later, it was found that many other birds (such as ducks, turkeys, etc.) can be infected and contagious, so it is also called "bird fever."

Under what circumstances can one be infected with psittacosis?

Humans are not usually directly infected with this pathogen

All through

Contact with poultry excrement

or exudate infection

Common modes of transmission include:

Inhalation of particles or infectious aerosols mixed with pathogens;

Direct contact with bacteria-excreting birds and their excretions;

Pathogens invade the body through damaged skin or mucous membranes, etc.

Therefore, pet bird owners, veterinarians, pet shops or people engaged in poultry breeding and processing are all high-risk groups for this disease, and other people should pay attention to protection in poultry breeding, slaughtering and selling places. In addition, there have been records of medical staff being infected by patients abroad, but human-to-human transmission is relatively rare and will not cause large-scale rapid spread.

Be careful when contacting poultry

What are the symptoms of parrot fever?

Most birds infected with psittacosis have no symptoms, but some will show symptoms such as poor spirits, anorexia, erect or messy feathers, excessive eye and nasal secretions, diarrhea, etc. Some birds may die quickly, so if you see such birds, you should deal with them as soon as possible.

After Chlamydia psittaci enters the human body, the incubation period is generally 5-14 days. The clinical manifestations lack specificity, and common symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dry cough, and dyspnea . Extrapulmonary organs may also be affected, with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain . Life-threatening situations are relatively rare.

How can we prevent it?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent psittacosis, so the only way to prevent it is to cut off the transmission route and protect susceptible people:

◆ Try to avoid contact with birds or bird feathers and other products in the near future;

◆ If you must come into contact with birds, be sure to wear a mask and wash your hands frequently;

◆ For those who keep pet birds at home, they should pay attention to purchasing them through formal channels and not bring home birds of unknown origin;

◆ Avoid overcrowding when raising birds to avoid cross-infection between birds;

◆ Bird cages, food cans, water bowls, etc. should be cleaned every day; wet the surface with water or disinfectant before cleaning to prevent dust; wear a mask and gloves when cleaning;

◆ Wash your hands thoroughly with running water and soap after contact with birds or items that may be contaminated with their excretions;

◆ If you find any suspicious symptoms in a bird, please isolate and treat it immediately;

◆ Wear a mask and maintain good hand hygiene when in contact with patients;

◆ If you have corresponding clinical symptoms and have a history of exposure to poultry, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time and inform the doctor of the relevant epidemiological history.

Kind tips

Parrot fever is common in pet parrots.

Handling of live poultry, etc.

Always take precautions

Wear a mask when going out and wash your hands and disinfect them in time

Pay attention to personal hygiene and stay away from diseases

Source: Xiamen CDC

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