Question - Several workers at two poultry slaughter house facilities recently reported fever, dry cough, headache and muscle aches. What pulmonary disease is the most likely cause for these symptoms in this group of workers?
Answer - Psittacosis. Psittacosis is caused by Chlamydia psittaci which can be spread by the inhiation of bird droppings containing this organism. (https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/atypical/psittacosis/surveillance-reporting/outbreaks/2018-poultry-multistate-investigation.html; accessed December 2018)
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