Psittacosis (ornithosis)

Statutory notification

• Psittacosis is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 209KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Chlamydia psittaci.
• Transmission:  Generally acquired by inhaling dust from dried faeces or fresh or dried ocular and nasal secretions from infected birds.
• Incubation period: 4 days to 4 weeks (usually 10 days).
• Infectious period: Person to person transmission is rare. Infected birds may shed the agent intermittently for a prolonged period.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: Antimicrobial treatment as recommended by the doctor.
• Immunisation:  None available.
• Case follow up: Is conducted by Public Health Units and the Communicable Disease Control Directorate.

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• Infectious disease data