Parrot fever cases amid a ‘mysterious’ pneumonia outbreak in Argentina – what you need to know about psittacosis
This is how the yet-to-be-named disease COVID-19 was first described when a cluster of cases was identified in Wuhan, China.
- This is how the yet-to-be-named disease COVID-19 was first described when a cluster of cases was identified in Wuhan, China.
- This term is being used again to describe a cluster of “atypical” pneumonia cases in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Some cases of psittacosis, also known as “parrot fever”, have been confirmed within this cluster.
- Psittacosis, or parrot fever, is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia psittaci, and is a common infection in birds.
- A 2017 systematic review concluded that around 1% of pneumonia cases not acquired in a hospital may be the result of psittacosis.
- There are often local respiratory infectious disease outbreaks, potentially causing severe pneumonia, and these do not spread more widely or internationally.
- At the time of writing this article, there is very little information available about the Argentina outbreak.
- There has been no statement from the public health authorities in Argentina, nor the WHO Pan America Health Organisation.
- Among the key pieces of information we really would need to know is the likelihood of human-to-human transmission.
Michael Head has previously received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Department for International Development, and currently receives funding from the UK Medical Research Foundation.