Woman’s warning after 'risky' act with cockatoo: ‘It could be fatal’
A mum nearly lost her life after kissing a pet cockatoo.
A woman has issued a serious warning about kissing pet birds after she nearly died looking after a weeks-old cockatoo.
Shaharazaad Gafoor offered to look after her nephew’s pet bird Frank, but didn’t expect for her life to be hanging in the balance just days later. Now, she’s telling others not to get “too close” with their pets.
The mum, aged 49, said she has always loved birds and shared a “strong connection” with her own parrot, Jack, six. But when Frank, an eight-week-old cockatoo, entered her life, she quickly realised that something was terribly wrong as the bird began displaying signs of lethargy and feather loss.
She put it down to him being in a new environment at first. However, soon Shaharazaad’s own health started to decline and within days she was admitted to hospital with a life-threatening illness, psittacosis, a bacterial infection.
“It’s also known as ‘parrot fever’ and it’s not something to joke about, as I wasn’t sure if I would survive the night – I felt like death,” Shaharazaad, a former disability support worker, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“The whole ordeal turned my whole life upside down in an instant and I struggled to breathe, constantly felt like I was overheating, and couldn’t shake the excruciating muscle pain. I couldn’t believe that the animals I had loved so much had almost caused my life to be over.”
Shaharazaad's own bird contracted the illness
Then, while she was battling for her own survival, her bird Jack also fell victim and was rushed to the vet, where he was believed to only have a short time left. Luckily, he pulled through and the mum, who recovered after nine days of intense treatment, is back at home.
But she is now warning others to watch out for the signs.
“My lungs are permanently scarred and I live in fear each day that the bacteria will resurface again,” she said. “I know birds can get sick after being purchased, but I think more checks need to be done at the pet shop before selling these animals.
“I’m worried about how many other owners will have to go through this. I didn’t know the bird had this bacteria lurking, no one would know, until it’s too late."
A 'wake-up call' to pet owners
The mum has said that the ordeal has served as a wake-up call. “I hope this serves as a wake-up call to everyone to practice good hygiene and wash your hands immediately after handing any birds – don’t kiss them or hug them. It could be fatal.”
Sadly, Jack recently passed away and while she’d love to get another feathery companion, the whole ordeal has put her off getting any other birds in the future.
“My life will never be the same and I can no longer look at birds in the way I did before,” Shaharazaad, from South Africa, added. “It’s put me off them for good. The financial toll of having time off work and the lingering health effects serve as a reminder of what a seemingly harmless infection can do.
“The allure of a cute and cuddly companion shouldn’t overshadow the risks they may carry. Look at me and ask yourself – is it worth kissing your animal?”
Jam Press
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