Several European countries have reported an outbreak of psittacosis, a bacterial infection commonly known as parrot fever. The outbreak originated in 2023 and has continued to affect people this year. Parrot fever is caused by Chlamydia psittaci and is detected in various pet and wild birds and poultry. Humans generally acquire it through breathing in the dust from infected birds’ secretions, bird bites, or beak-to-mouth contact.
Parrot fever causes mild illness with headaches, muscle pain, dry cough, fever, and chills five to 14 days after exposure to the pathogens from affected birds. Parrot fever outbreaks were reported in Austria (number of cases in 2024 – 14), Denmark (cases – 23), Germany (cases – 5), and the Netherlands (21 cases from late December to February). Although it is rarely fatal for humans, five deaths were reported in the current outbreak. While the WHO monitors the…
