The ACT Government has launched a vaccination program to help owners protect their birds from a highly contagious strain of pigeon disease.
The government will fund a vaccination program for a strain of Avian Paramyxovirus that had not previously been reported in Australia, but was recently detected in hobby pigeon flocks in Victoria and New South Wales.
Chief Veterinary Officer Will Andrew said the disease was highly contagious amongst pigeons, but there was limited evidence to date of it affecting other birds and no evidence of it affecting parrots and chickens.
Dr Andrew said the key clinical signs of pigeon disease included lethargy or loss of appetite, gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhoea and regurgitation, neurological signs including head shaking, and death.
“There is no threat to dogs, cats and other non-avian species however, while extremely rare, human infection is possible,” he said.
To protect pigeons in the ACT, the government will begin a vaccination program this month.
Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/rare-pigeon-disease-vaccine-offered-for-act-birds-20120716-225f1.html#ixzz20md00AcA
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