- The toddler is believed to be only the fifth human victim of Newcastle disease
- The virus strain causes a range of fatal symptoms, such as twisted necks in birds
An Australian toddler has died after contracting a disease common in pigeons.
Medics still don't know how the two-year-old, who was battling leukemia, contracted the highly contagious virus.
But they think she may have become infected by touching pigeon droppings or fluids.
The girl, who was not identified, is only the fifth human victim of Newcastle disease since records began in 1926.
The disease is caused by avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) and causes a range of fatal neurological symptoms, including twisted necks or twitching wings in birds.
Medics still don't know how the two-year-old, who was battling leukemia, contracted the highly contagious virus. But they think she may have become infected by touching pigeon droppings or fluids. The girl, who was not identified, is only the fifth human victim of Newcastle disease since records began in 1926
But it is uncommon in humans and usually only leads to conjunctivitis.
The toddler was admitted to hospital Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, New South Wales, after suffering from cold symptoms, nausea and vomiting for three weeks.
Six weeks earlier, she had completed her second round of chemotherapy.
Doctors said she had not traveled recently or come into contact with pets or sick family members.
Over the next four days her condition worsened as she suffered a series of seizures.
The results of the MRI scan revealed nothing of concern while it was repeated test results for the cause of the virus were also negative.
She was given antiviral medications, antibiotics and anti-seizure medications to treat brain swelling and reduce discomfort.
But her condition did not improve.
She died almost a month ago after he was admitted after treatment failed to stop further brain tissue death.
Medics wrote in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases that her death was “most likely caused by encephalitis” following an APMV-1 infection.
Tests showed it was similar to samples previously taken from pigeons.
“Although no exposure was identified, it is likely that the virus was inadvertently transmitted through direct contact with pigeon feces or infected fluids,” she added.
The virus is known to spread through pigeon droppings and can be spread by dust from the wind.
Newcastle disease – named after the city where the disease was first identified in 1926 – is one of the most common and highly contagious viruses spread among wild and domestic birds worldwide.
Infected pigeons can suffer dramatic weight loss, produce green feces, continue to walk in circles – which often means they cannot fly – and are reluctant to move.
The first documented case of APMV-1 infection in humans was reported in Australia in 1942.
About 485 human cases have been reported worldwide, more than half of which are in Britain.
To date, there have been four recorded human deaths, all caused by the APMV-1 strain, in the Netherlands, the United States, China and France.