This bulletin provides information concerning the hazard of occupational exposure to psittacosis that may be found in pet shops, quarantine facilities, and the poultry processing industry. Psittacosis is caused by a bacterium, Chlamydia psittaci , which is transmitted to humans from birds. An infected bird may appear to have red, watery eyes, nasal discharge, diarrhea, and a poor appetite. After a bird recovers from infection, the bacteria may remain in its blood, feathers, and droppings for many weeks. Humans may acquire psittacosis by inhaling infected particles from bird droppings.
Symptoms begin one to three weeks after exposure, and usually include headache, fever, and cough.
Severe infection may develop into pneumonia that requires hospitalization. The birds may be fed chlortetracycline to prevent transmission of the disease to birds and to humans in quarantine stations. The bacteria, however, continue to be found in released birds. Additionally, workers handle many birds which are not imported, rather they are bred in this country and, therefore, are not subject to the USDA's medication requirements. OSHA does not have a standard specific to the hazard of psittacosis.