Psittacosis in general practice: implications for control.

In one general practice over a six-week period three patients with atypical pneumonia were shown serologically to have psittacosis. All three patients had been exposed to the same flock of ducks but veterinary investigation three months after the first case had been reported did not show the ducks to be infected. However, in a retrospective review of laboratory-diagnosed psittacosis, a likely source of infection was found in 11 out of 24 cases and in most of these full medicoveterinary investigation would have been warranted. Early diagnosis, reporting quickly to the medical officer for environmental health and early liaison with the divisional veterinary officer are essential prerequisites if psittacosis is to be controlled. If psittacosis were made a statutory notifiable disease this would encourage a more energetic approach to its control. The proposed cutbacks in the veterinary investigation service will make full investigations more difficult.