DISEASED PARROTS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1930, Page 9

DISEASED PARROTS

> THEFT FROM DOCTOR’S HOME. Dr. Crichton Merrillees, of the Victoriain Health Department, has reported to the Melbourne police that seven shell parrots were stolen recently from an aviary at the rear of his house at St. Kilda. He is perturbed, as the bird* were convalescing from a disease which may be communicable to human beings. Some time ago investigations wens begun into a series of epidemics among caged parrots with a view to determining the cause and whether the diseas® was communicable to. human beings. At the same time it was hoped to prove definitely that there was no psittacos!* in Victoria. A shipment of parrots wa* landed, from Japan several months ago. Many of the birds were ill, and were subsequently destroyed in the course of experiments, but a few survived. The stolen parrots were the remainder of the shipment. Although they had practically recovered, it is thought that they may be carriers of the disease from which .they were suffering. Strong endeavours are being made by the polieb_ to trace the parrots. Other birds with which the parrots come into contact arg also likely to become affected.