Deformed bodies and slow, uneven movements are not about undead birds or ordinary pigeons. A mysterious illness affecting pigeons in the United Kingdom has prompted alarms as scientists race to identify its cause and containment. Reports describe a contagious illness in pigeons that has raised concern across the nation, especially for its rapid spread and troubling symptoms.
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A highly infectious virus is affecting pigeons on Jersey, an island in the English Channel, turning some into what observers describe as zombie pigeons. This description has appeared in reports from major outlets in the region. [Sun]
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The virus is spreading quickly, triggering alarms about its potential reach beyond the island. The symptoms give the disease a cinematic edge: crooked necks, extreme thinness, erratic or slowed movements, and an inability to fly. [Sun]
This condition, known as pigeon paramyxovirus PMV or Newcastle disease, is extremely serious and often deadly. Additional signs include green stools, limb paralysis, tremors, or a reluctance to eat or move. [Sun]
“In recent weeks there has been an increase in ground pigeons entering the JSPCA Animal Sanctuary, many showing neurological damage and symptoms such as a shrug or circling,” explained a spokesperson for the Jersey shelter to British media. [JSPCA]
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The cited sources indicate these symptoms align with pigeon paramyxovirus, a virus that affects the nervous and digestive systems of pigeons. The appearance or suspicion of the disease in captive birds should be reported to authorities and may involve pigeons, doves, or poultry. [Authorities]
There is no cure for the virus that causes this disease, and it spreads through droppings and other secretions. Infected birds diagnosed with paramyxovirus are often humanely euthanized to prevent further infections. Although zombie pigeons do not pose a direct risk to people, officials urge the public to avoid handling these birds and to report any suspicious situations immediately to local authorities. [Sun]
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