PARROTS' DISEASE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 24, 21 October 1937, Page 4

PARROTS' DISEASE

I'ress A8soe»«i'on. J

Examination of Bird& Reveals No Trace

AUCKLAND FATALITY

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(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Exhaustive laboratory tests are being ;arried out under the direction of Dr Grilmour, pathologist at tlie Aucklaild Hospital, as the result of the suspicion that the death of an Auckland woman biidgerigar fancier was due to psittacosis or pafrots' disease. An examination of seven birds which were removed from her home by the Health Department has revealed no trace of the disease, but tests will Dot be completed for several days. Tn the meantime there is stated to be no caUsC for alarm. With psittacosis regarded by medical authorities as a disease of unknown bacteriology, upusuai difficulties are presented in con* ducting the pathological investigations. That the first examinations should have revealed no apparent infection is regarded as an encouraging fact, but this result requires confirmation by a xninute examination of the birds' organs. Dr Hughes, medicai officer of health at Auckland, said that psitthcosis had occurred in a number of ■ countries at different times, and in view of the many budgerigars which wCre kept by New Zealanders, any suggestion of an outbreak in the Dominion had to be regarded in a serious light. However, the death of a woman this week has not been proved to be duo to the disease. There had been no mortality among the budgerigafs at her home and there were no other obviously suspicious symptoms UoticealHe amongst them. So f Ar as tests had proceeded there was no conclusive ^vidence that the birds were suffering from psittacosis and there was no cause for alarrii. However, in view of occasioiial dutbreaks in other countries, Dr Hughes added, there was need fof care on the part of people who came into close contact with a member of the parrot family, Cages should be kept ecrupulously clean and . birds which appehred imwell slsould not be fondled.