|
Cause:
Bacterium Chlamydophila (previously Chlamydia)
psittaci.
Illness and
treatment: Abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, and
nonproductive cough which may progress to shortness of
breath and pneumonia. Treatment is with antibiotics.
Sources:
Birds in the parrot family are common sources, with poultry,
pigeons, canaries, and sea birds being less common sources.
Infection usually occurs when a
person inhales organisms excreted in aerosolized dried feces
or respiratory tract secretions of infected birds.
Prevention:
Avoid purchasing or selling
birds that appear ill; practice preventive husbandry; and
wear protective clothing when cleaning cages or handling
infected birds. If respiratory or influenza-like symptoms
occur after bird caretaking, seek medical attention and
report bird contact.
Recent Washington trends:
Each year there are 0 to 4 reports, commonly associated with
indoor exposure to pet birds and less commonly farm or wild
birds.
2008:
No cases were reported.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
- To identify sources of transmission (e.g., a pet shop or
poultry processing plant) and to prevent further transmission
from such sources.
- When the source is a risk for only to a few individuals
(e.g., a pet
bird with avian chlamydiosis), to inform those individuals
how they can reduce their risk of exposure.
Legal Reporting Requirements
-
Health care
providers: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3
work days
-
Hospitals:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 work days
-
Laboratories: no
requirements for reporting
-
Veterinarian:
avian chlamydiosis is immediately notifiable to Washington
State Department of Agriculture or to the local health
jurisdiction
-
Local health
jurisdictions: notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease
Epidemiology Section (CDES) within 7 days of case
investigation completion or summary information required
within 21 days
Last
update
November 2009 |
|
