In response to the outbreak of psittacosis or parrot fever in a number of cockatiels, PetSmart Inc. self-imposed a 30-day quarantine in 775 of its 1,000 stores in 46 states.
Random testing of birds at PetSmart led to the discovery of the disease, which is characterized by coldlike and flulike symptoms. The disease can be passed on to humans, but the infection can be treated with an antibiotic
