Psittacosis in Hamilton: a case report and epidemiological study.

A case report of a patient severely ill with psittacosis is presented, together with an epidemiological study of his fellow workers. This study illustrates the contagiousness of the disease and indicates that it is probably more prevalent than clinical experience suggests. Only three of the 83 persons studied who were exposed became ill enough to seek medical attention. It is important that both the physician and the public be made aware of this disease so that definitive treatment can be instituted as early as possible. Tetracycline is the drug of choice. Since this infection is widespread among many varieties of birds, and is not confined to those of the parrot family, this disease must be considered in any patient with an atypical pneumonia, especially when there has been contact with a bird. Since there is not likely to be a reinstitution of the ban on the importation of psittacine birds as domestic pets, the only alternative means of controlling outbreaks of this disease is public and physician awareness. Since some outbreaks appear to be spread from man to man, sometimes with high mortality, it is important that any patient suspected of having this disease be kept in strict isolation.