Birds at all Ga. PetSmart stores under quarantine
By MIKE MORRIS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/31/07
The state Department of Agriculture has quarantined all PetSmart stores in the state because of an outbreak of psittacosis, a bird disease that can be transferred to humans.
The quarantine, which applies only to birds sold at the stores, was also ordered for a Superpetz store in the Augusta suburb of Martinez.
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According to the Department of Agriculture, psittacosis is a bacterial disease that primarily affects parrots, parakeets and other members of the parrot family. The disease, which can be fatal to birds, rarely infects poultry.
"We have had two confirmed cases of psittacosis at PetSmart stores in Hiram and Woodstock," said Tommy Irvin, the state's commissioner of agriculture. "There have also been confirmed cases at the dealer, Preferred Birds of Milton, Fla., that supplies birds to all the stores we are quarantining."
Irvin said his office is requiring that PetSmart and Superpetz move the birds away from the public and begin using medicated feed to treat the birds. The quarantine is expected to last 45 days.
According to PetSmart's Web site, the company operates 35 stores in Georgia.
If this is contagious to humans i am sure it is to our fur babies too!! I wonder what measures they will be taking as they do have a grooming center there and some have the pet hotels???
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