|
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.
2010:
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 24 hours
-
Health care facilities:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours
-
Laboratories:
Chlamydia psittaci notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours;
specimen submission is on request only
-
Veterinarians:
Suspected human cases notifiable within 24 hours to the local health jurisdiction;
avian chlamydiosis cases notifiable to Washington State Department of Agriculture (see:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=16-70)
-
Local health jurisdictions:
notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) within 7 days of case
investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days
Last update
December 2011 |
|
