LABORATORY TESTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 250, 21 October 1937, Page 8

LABORATORY TESTS

PSITTACOSIS SCARE AUCKLANDER'S DEATH r Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND, Oct. 20. Exhaustive laboratory tests are being carried out under the direction of Dr. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, as a result of a. suspicion that the death ot an Auckland woman budgerigar fancier was due to psittacosis or parrot's disease. An examination of seven birds which were removed from her home by tne Health Department -has revealed no trace of the disease but tests will not be completed for several days. In the meantime there is stated to be no cause for alarm. With psittacosis regarded by medical authorities as a disease of unknown bacteriology, unusual difficulties are presented in conducting the pathological investigations. That the liret examinations should have revealed no apparent infection is regarded as an encouraging fact, but this result requires confirmation by a minute examination of the birds’

organs. Dr. Hughes, medical officer of health at Auckland, said that psittacosis had occurred in a number of countries at different limes and in view ot the many budgerigars which were kept by New Zealanders, any suggestion of an outbreak in the Dominion had to be regarded in a serious light. However, the death of the woman this week has not been proved to be due to the disease. There had been no mortality among the budgerigars at her home and there were no other obviously suspicious symptoms noticeable amongst them. So far as the tests had proceeded there was no conclusive evidence that the birds were suffering from psittacosis and there was no cause for alarm. However, in view of the occasional outbreaks in other countries, Dr. Hughes added that there was need for care on the part of people who came into close contact with members of the parrot family. The cages should be kept scrupulously clean and birds which appeared unwell should not be fondled.