Post by System on May 14, 2020 12:59:36 GMT
Parrot fever alert issued after three people test positive to bird disease in Blue Mountains.
Health officials are advising residents to avoid contact with wild birds after three people test positive for a potentially dangerous bacterial infection.
The Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) issued the advice to residents of Blue Mountains and Lithgow, New South Wales, after several locals were recently diagnosed with psittacosis, also known as parrot fever.
The region's director of public health, Bradley Forssman, said the disease could spread through exposure to the birds, or dust containing bird droppings.
"Direct contact with wild birds, including handling and feeding, should be avoided where possible," Dr Forssman said.
He said dust masks and gloves should be worn when gardening or lawn mowing in areas where birds may have left droppings.
Symptoms in humans could appear from five to 28 days after exposure, and could vary from a mild flu-like illness to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation, the NBMLHD said in a statement.
Older people could experience more severe symptoms, but the disease was treatable with antibiotics.
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/parrot-fever-warning-blue-mountains-psittacosis-bird-disease/12243694
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Peak simulation
Health officials are advising residents to avoid contact with wild birds after three people test positive for a potentially dangerous bacterial infection.
The Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) issued the advice to residents of Blue Mountains and Lithgow, New South Wales, after several locals were recently diagnosed with psittacosis, also known as parrot fever.
The region's director of public health, Bradley Forssman, said the disease could spread through exposure to the birds, or dust containing bird droppings.
"Direct contact with wild birds, including handling and feeding, should be avoided where possible," Dr Forssman said.
He said dust masks and gloves should be worn when gardening or lawn mowing in areas where birds may have left droppings.
Symptoms in humans could appear from five to 28 days after exposure, and could vary from a mild flu-like illness to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalisation, the NBMLHD said in a statement.
Older people could experience more severe symptoms, but the disease was treatable with antibiotics.
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-14/parrot-fever-warning-blue-mountains-psittacosis-bird-disease/12243694
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Peak simulation
