Cases of Fatalities Due to 'Parrot Fever' Recorded in Denmark 0 8

Ornithosis is a disease characterized by fever, chills, muscle aches, dry cough, and headache. In Denmark, four people have died from this illness out of twenty-three infected, and another seventeen have been hospitalized with complications such as pneumonia. Denmark has been more severely affected compared to Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden. One death from ornithosis has been reported in the Netherlands. There are also cases of infection in Russia.

Every year, Denmark records between fifteen and thirty cases of ornithosis; however, in 2024, an aggressive form of Chlamydia psittaci is being observed. Infection occurs through contact with sick domestic birds or infected ducks during hunting. The primary source of infection is believed to be wild birds, through inhalation of particles from dried feces that are spread through the air. Those at risk include poultry farm workers, veterinarians, and those involved in the transportation of birds.

If medical assistance is not sought in time and a proper diagnosis is not made, the disease can lead to pneumonia and hepatitis.