The recent illness of three members of a Buffalo family was confirmed as psittacosis by State Health Department tests, Dr. William E. Mosher, Erie County health commissioner, said Friday. All have recovered.
Dr. Mosher said they contracted the disease from a pet parakeet. The ailment — also known as parrot fever — is a pneumonia-like disease caused by a virus. Several antibiotics are available to treat it, the health commissioner said.
The disease is comparatively rare in this area, but Dr. Mosher suggested these precautions for bird owners:
Isolate or dispose of any bird that becomes ill; never kiss or come in close contact with pet birds, and avoid as “poor practice” letting parrots or parakeets out of their cages.
