PARROTS' AILMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17238, 19 April 1930, Page 15

PARROTS' AILMENT

PSITTACOSIS-OR CLIMATE

HEALTH DEPT. PRECAUTIONS

A new problem in health administration faces the country as the result of the parrot mortality discovered in the Dominion and (he tear of tile unknown disease psittacosis. Nevertheless, nothing is being left to chanco by the department, and Dr. T. McGi'bbon, director ot public hygiene, siaied in Wellington that a Dominionwide search is being conducted by the departmental officers for the birds whi.-h were landed in Auckland. This is a matter of considerable difficulty, as in some cases cash sales have been made by the importer and he and his agents have covered wide areas. The disturbing feature of the situation was that the whole nine parrots which went to Wanganui in one bat-h showed illness and died.

Bacteriological tests made on the blood of two parrots proved negative, but the tests are by no means conclusive. The reassuring 'feature of the affair is that while there have been a considerable number of parrots in the country ( and these, have been largely in contact with bird fanciers and the general public there have been no cases of disease discovered. In addition, the parrots brought to Auckland formed part of a hatch of between SCO and 600, the remainder of which went on to Australia. where no consequences have so far been observed. Nevertheless, the Health Department is discouraging people from handling parrots and is urging utmost caro iii cases were parrots are. found to lie ailing.