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Dead Parrot Chlamydia
- A teacher from Inverness caught chlamydia from a dead parrot in his garden in 1992.
- He recovered, but psittacosis can be serious, especially for those over 35.
Parrot Fever Panic
- A 1930s parrot fever outbreak led to the death of two actors in Argentina after they handled a stage parrot.
- This incident, alongside others, triggered a panic, leading to 90% of Argentina's pet parrots being killed and the eventual founding of America's National Institute of Health.
Old Maids Pneumonia
- Parrots were popular pets in the past, leading to the nickname "Old Maids Pneumonia" for psittacosis.
- This was due to the stereotype of widowed women owning parrots and the misconception that the disease spread through kissing them.