Fatal disease leaving local pigeons with twisted necks

Monday 24 October 2022

Jersey's main animal charity is warning local bird keepers of a fatal 'twisted neck' disease that appears to be flying through the island's pigeon population.

According to the JSPCA, more and more pigeons are coming to them showing signs of Pigeon Paramyxovirus, an extremely infectious and invariably fatal viral disease that can also affect doves and poultry.

In addition to suffering a twisted neck, birds affected by the disease often show neurological signs such circling or being unable to stand.

They are also usually thin and have green faeces. Sometimes they will also have injuries resulting from not being able to balance or fly well.

Pigeon Paramyxovirus is a Notifiable Disease in captive birds (meaning that suspected cases must be reported to the authorities), but not wild birds.  

Unfortunately, there is no treatment and many birds die within a few days. Any that do survive will continue to shed the virus and be a risk to other birds. At the JSPCA, affected birds are humanely euthanised.

The disease is extremely infectious and spread through faeces and other secretions. The virus can survive longer in the wetter, colder months, meaning clusters of cases are more common at this time of year.

Human infection with this virus is rare and usually occurs only in people who have close, direct contact with infected birds. The virus causes mild flu-like symptoms.

The new threat comes just after the Government eased Avian Influenza (H1N1) restrictions on non-wild flocks of birds earlier this month after no new outbreaks of bird flu were detected in six weeks.

Islanders can call the JSPCA for advice on any birds they have concerns about on 01534 724331.