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Infection Leads To Quarantine At Fairfax Petco
Parakeet Has a Disease
By Leef Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 21, 2004; Page B04

Twenty-five birds at a Petco store in Fairfax City have been quarantined after one parakeet was found to have a communicable infection that can be passed to humans and result in flu-like symptoms and sometimes pneumonia, according to officials with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Officials said the diagnosis was made last week of psittacosis, a respiratory infection also known as "parrot fever" that can be transmitted to humans who inhale the dried secretions of an infected bird. Bird owners, pet shop employees and veterinarians generally run the highest risk of contracting the illness.

State officials said the risk to customers who have visited the store, at 10708 Lee Highway, is minimal.

"If you went into the store and you didn't handle the bird directly, there should be no problem," said Ronald King, regional veterinary supervisor for the state's office of veterinary services. "To me, it's a concern, but I don't think people need to be losing sleep over it." "