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Psittacosis

Parakeets sitting in a cage

Chlamydia psittaci is a type of bacteria that often infects birds. Less commonly, these bacteria can infect people and cause a disease called psittacosis. Psittacosis causes a wide range of symptoms, including fever, headache, and a dry cough. This illness can also cause pneumonia (a lung infection) that may require treatment or care in a hospital. Rarely, psittacosis can be deadly.

Multistate Psittacosis Outbreak among Poultry Plant Workers, 2018

CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are assisting the Virginia and Georgia departments of health in investigating a multistate outbreak of psittacosis occurring at poultry slaughter plants owned by a single corporation.

Learn more about the outbreak and find information for poultry plant employers and employees.

2017 Compendium

The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians released an updated Compendium of Measures to Control Chlamydia psittaci Infection Among Humans (Psittacosis) and Pet Birds (Avian Chlamydiosis). View the Compendium and related resources.

How Do You Say That?

Find pronunciation guides below for common words associated with psittacosis.

  • Chlamydia — klah-MID-e-a
  • Pneumonia — noo-MOAN-yah
  • Psittaci — SIT-ah-see
  • Psittacosis — sit-ah-KOH-sis

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