Psittacosis in Birds and Humans (UK)

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), psittacosis is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci, which usually infects birds. It is commonly associated with parrots, parakeets, budgerigars and cockatiels, though many other species can be infected. Crucially, not all infected birds show symptoms — but they can still transmit the infection.

When birds do become unwell, typical signs include:

• Lethargy, fluffed feathers, sleeping more
• Poor appetite and weight loss
• Breathing difficulty or tail bobbing — see Budgie respiratory problems UK
• Diarrhoea or discoloured droppings
• Eye or nose discharge, inflamed eyes

Any bird with these signs should see a UK-registered avian vet — and because apparently healthy birds can be carriers, hygiene matters even when your bird looks well.

According to UKHSA, transmission is mainly through:

• Inhaling dust contaminated with infected droppings or respiratory secretions
• Direct oral contact with an infected bird
• Handling infected plumage and tissues

Those at greatest risk include bird fanciers and pet bird owners, pet shop staff, poultry workers, vets and zoo workers — but UKHSA notes infection can follow brief, passing exposure to infected birds or dried droppings, so people with no obvious risk can become infected.

According to UKHSA, the incubation period is 1–4 weeks. Illness typically presents as non-specific flu-like symptoms — fever, headache, muscle aches and cough. It is often mild but can lead to severe pneumonia and respiratory failure, especially when untreated in elderly or immunocompromised people.

If you develop flu-like symptoms and keep or handle birds:

• Contact your GP or NHS 111 (online at 111.nhs.uk or by phone)
• Tell them about your bird contact — clinicians are advised to consider psittacosis in patients with bird exposure
• Human cases are treatable with appropriate antibiotics

According to UKHSA, usually fewer than 10 PCR-confirmed cases are reported each year in England. Rare — but underdiagnosed, and worth taking seriously because severe cases are preventable with prompt treatment.

UKHSA advice centres on stopping contaminated dust building up:

• Clean cages and surrounding floors frequently — reduce the accumulation of droppings, feathers and secretions
• Damp-clean rather than dry-sweeping around the cage, so dust is not thrown into the air
• Good ventilation in rooms where birds live
• Wash hands after handling birds or cleaning cages
• Quarantine new birds for around 30 days before introducing them, and consider avian vet screening
• Take extra care cleaning when a bird is unwell — and isolate it from other birds

1. Bird — book an avian vet; diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are effective. Tell the vet about any human illness in the household.
2. People — GP or NHS 111, mentioning bird contact.
3. Household — step up cage hygiene, ventilation and handwashing; avoid close face-to-beak contact until the bird is cleared.