Abstract
In autumn 2002, an outbreak of probable psittacosis occurred among residents of the Blue Mountains district, Australia. We conducted a case-control study to determine independent risk factors for psittacosis by comparing exposures between hospitalized patients and other residents selected randomly from the telephone directory. Of the 59 case-patients with laboratory results supportive of psittacosis, 48 participated in a case-control study with 310 controls. Independent risk factors were residence in the upper Blue Mountains (odds ratio [OR] 15.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.6-41.7), age of 50-64 years (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.5-10.5), direct contact with wild birds (OR 7.4, 95% CI 2.5-22), and mowing lawns without a grass catcher (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3-8.0). Protective equipment is recommended for residents in areas frequented by free-ranging birds if contact with birds and their droppings is likely when performing outdoor activities such as lawn mowing.
Highlights
In autumn 2002, an outbreak of probable psittacosis occurred among residents of the Blue Mountains district, Australia
Psittacosis became a notifiable disease in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in 2001, and 38 laboratory notifications were received by the state health department that year, an incidence of 5.7 cases per 1,000,000 population for NSW [16,17]
The first patient with a probable case of psittacosis was hospitalized on March 11, 2002, marking the start of the outbreak, which peaked in late April to early May, with the last probable case-patient admitted to the hospital on June 29 (Figure)
Summary
In autumn 2002, an outbreak of probable psittacosis occurred among residents of the Blue Mountains district, Australia. Independent risk factors were residence in the upper Blue Mountains (odds ratio [OR] 15.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.6–41.7), age of 50–64 years (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.5–10.5), direct contact with wild birds (OR 7.4, 95% CI 2.5–22), and mowing lawns without a grass catcher (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3–8.0). Psittacosis is a human disease caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci. Reports that patients had found increased numbers of dead freeranging birds in their yards, handled dead birds, and occasionally mowed over dead bird carcasses prompted clinicians to suspect psittacosis, no case had been confirmed by laboratory testing. We report on our investigation into the extent and most likely cause of this outbreak
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