Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
DEATH BY PARROT
FEVER SPURS u. S.
New Cases Lead Officials
to Study Ban on
Bird Imports.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press. ,...-r...
Reports attributing two deaths and
almost a score of serious illnesses in
widely scattered points to rare disease,
psittacosis, or parrot fever. led Fed
eral health officials last night to in
quire into points of origin of infected
birds with a view to recommending
restriction of their importation.
Three new cases of what was be-
lieved to be psittacosis, malady often
fatal and similar to typhoid fever.
complicated by pneumonia, were re-
ported yesterday from Providence, r. /.
The New York City health commits
sioner was investigating two suspected
cases, and four employees of pet store
in Baltimore were under observation
as possible victims.
Surg Gen. Cumming said he had
official reports from his own officers
who diagnosed three other cases in
Annapolis, Md. as parrot disease. His
attention was centered on the disease,
as was that of other health authorities
Known Disease Victims.
The known deaths attributed to the
disease, which scientists say is rarely
transmitted to humans by other means
than contact with parrots, although
other animals have been infected, we're
those of Mrs. Percy @. Williams of
Toledo and Mrs. Louise Schaffle Of
Baltimore Both died after contact
with parrots that were sick. Mrs. Will
liams husband is in a serious con-
dition.
Some deaths have been attributed to
the disease in Germany and yesterday
the government of Saxony placed
ban on shipment of the birds. Medical
journals received by DR.. Cumming re-
ported an outbreak in Buenos Aires,
group of nine actors stricken.
DR.. Cumming asked Baltimore offi-
Gals to assist In tracing the origin of
parrots affected and conferred with off,
cials of the Bureaus of Animal In
dustry and Biological Survey. He said
these issue permits before the birds can
be brought into the country.
Meanwhile scientists throughout the
Governments health service discussed
the disease, which was unknown to most
Of them as human ailment until the
recent cases developed.
Not one case of it, health officials said,
Is on record IN the history of the Navy,
the Marine Corps or the merchant ma
rine. Rareness of transmission of the
disease from person to person was
marked also. Doctors explained that
bllCy AktcW Va llO utSLdIlCc VI IL. lucy
added that no scientific explanation of
this characteristic has been advanced,
psittacosis resembling other rare
diseases like undulant fever.
May Ask Cultures.
The hygienic laboratory of Buenos
Aires probably will be asked to supply
officials here with cultures, it was said,
because of the difficulty of obtaining
material for study. One public health
official who investigated the Annapolis
cases said it was difficult to secure ma
terial because the patients already had
been subjected to examination and re-
examination and taking of many blood
counts and tests by doctors interested
in studying the disease.
We do not consider 1t practical to
place an embargo on importation before
making sure where the sick parrots are
coming FROM" DR.. Cumming said. But
we will trace this and then advise cessa-
ton of imports. Now, I find, between
$4,000 and $4,000 parrots are brought
in annually, chiefly from Buenos Aires,
the West Coast of Africa and Australia"
NEW SUSPECTS IN BALTIMORE.