Parakeet With 'Parrot Fever' Forces Petco Quarantine

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) -- A parakeet with an infection that can be passed to people has caused a Petco store in Fairfax City to quarantine 25 birds.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services say the diagnosis of psittacosis was made last week. The illness is a respiratory infection also known as "parrot fever," and it can be transmitted to humans who inhale the dried secretions of an infected bird. Flu-like symptoms, and even pneumonia sometimes follows.

But The Washington Post reports that state officials say the risk to customers who have visited the store at 10708 Lee Highway is minimal.

Ronald King is a regional veterinary supervisor for the state. He told the Post that If people went into the store and didn't handle the bird directly, there should be no problem.

Psittacosis has an incubation period in humans of five to 19 days and can be treated with antibiotics.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)