SPREAD OF FEVER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 899, 17 February 1930, Page 9

SPREAD OF FEVER

PSITTACOSIS CASES IN ENGLAND DEATH OF PARROT OWNERS LONDON, Saturday. Five deaths from psittacosis, or “parrot, fever,” have occurred in England in the past fortnight. The victims include Mrs. Rogers, of Barking, whose son and daughter had previously succumbed. Another son is in hospital. The Rogers family bought a parrot in January, which has since died. Mr Heaton, a member of the Wimbledon Town Council, who owned eight parrots, has died, under a strong suspicion that he was suffering from the disease. The Ministry of Health is investigating the illness of four domestic employees at a Mayfair service flat, which is occupied by an actress whose par rot has died. The Ministry is considering putting an embargo on the importation of parrots from South America. It is stated that small greyish knots or lumps are found in livers of parrots which have fallen victims to the disease. The disease causes the bird to refuse nourishment; its wings hang down and breathing is heavy and distressed. Six cases reported from Altona. near Hamburg, show that the disease is highly infectious among human beings. A doctor and nurse both caught the disease from one sufferer who entered the hospital in which they were engaged. At. the same time people are warned that not all sick parrots necessarily have psittacosis, and that with proper care the majority both of birds and human beings recover.