Key points
- ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø tracks psittacosis cases using a national surveillance system.
- Psittacosis is an uncommon disease in the United States.
- Outbreaks of psittacosis are known to occur.
Data system
National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
Psittacosis is a reportable condition in most states.
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø collects national information about psittacosis cases through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø publishes updated NNDSS data each week.
How the data are interpreted
Disease trends
Between 1988 and 2010, the number of reported psittacosis cases decreased. This decline may be the result of improved diagnostic tests that distinguish Chlamydia psittaci from more common C. pneumoniae infections.
The number of cases can vary widely from year to year because of periodic outbreaks. For example, poultry processing plants have reported psittacosis outbreaks. In 2018, a multistate psittacosis outbreak among poultry plant workers had 13 laboratory confirmed cases.
Data reporting
Since 2010, ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø has typically received reports of fewer than 10 cases in the United States each year. However, experts believe the disease is potentially underreported and underdiagnosed.
Data definitions
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) released the most recent in 2010.