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An outbreak of psittacosis in a boys' boarding school

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

J. V. S. Pether ,
N. D. Noah ,
Y. K. Lau ,
J. A. Taylor  and
J. C. Bowie
J. V. S. Pether
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory Service, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5DB
N. D. Noah
Affiliation:
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
Y. K. Lau
Affiliation:
Paddington and North Kensington Health Authority, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London, W2 1NY
J. A. Taylor
Affiliation:
Hamilton House, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 OAH
J. C. Bowie
Affiliation:
Somerset Health Authority, County Hall, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4EJ
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Summary

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In 1980, an outbreak of a mild illness involving twenty pupils and four adults in a boys' boarding school was identified serologically as psittacosis. Intensive epidemiological investigations did not uncover the source. It is suggested either that sources of chlamydia other than avian exist, which may produce a milder illness than the avian type, or that human-to-human spread of a mild form of chlamydiosis occurs.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 92 , Issue 3 , June 1984 , pp. 337 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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