Psittacosis and Chlamydia psittaci Exposed in New Online Video

Sept. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Today, the IAQ Video Network and Cochrane & Associates announced the release of another online video to help educate the public about environmental issues that may impact their health.  The latest educational video discusses psittacosis and Chlamydia psittaci.

Psittacosis is an infectious disease usually transmitted to humans from birds in the parrot family as well as from turkeys and pigeons. Birds in the parrot family, or psittacines, include parrots, macaws, parakeets and cockatiels. The disease is caused by a type of bacteria known as Chlamydia psittaci.

Because this disease is spread by birds in the parrot family, it is occasionally found in pet store workers, veterinarians and people who have purchased an infected bird. It may also be found in farmers and slaughterhouse workers who process turkeys and some other types of birds.  

Psittacosis is usually spread by inhaling dust from dried droppings from bird cages and by handling infected birds in slaughterhouses. Human-to-human spread has not been reported. Waste material in the bird cage may remain infectious for weeks at a time.

In humans, the symptoms are fever, headache, chills and sometimes pneumonia. The incubation period typically ranges from 5 to 14 days, but longer incubations have been reported.  Some people may only experience mild flu-like illness, or show no illness at all.  Other cases may be fatal.

“Diagnosis of psittacosis can be difficult,” reported Paul Cochrane, President of Cochrane and Associates, the company behind the IAQ Video Network and the new public outreach video.     “Few infections are reported each year in the United States, but many more cases may occur that are not correctly diagnosed or reported.”

To view this video please visit http://www.IAQTV.com or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyGk8vO2dgY



To learn more please visit http://www.cochraneassoc.com, email info@cochraneassoc.com or call (602)510-3179.

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About Cochrane & Associates, LLC & the IAQ Video Network
Cochrane & Associates is a business development, public relations and marketing consulting firm that specializes in the environmental, HVAC, mold and indoor air quality industries. The company has worked with many of the industries’ leading institutions and companies and continues to be an innovator in the industry. They are also the innovators behind the IAQ Video Network.