Last Updated on by Mitch Rezman
BFDV is a germ that makes parrots and other birds very sick. It can cause them to lose their feathers, make their beaks look strange, and sometimes even make them so sick that they can’t survive.
Scientists study this virus to figure out how it spreads and how to protect birds.
What Scientists Have Found:
- In Bangladesh, almost 4 out of 10 pet birds tested had the virus, even though most of them didn’t look sick. This shows that birds can carry the virus without showing signs.
- In India, the virus was found in rainbow lorikeets, a type of colorful parrot. This makes scientists worry that the virus might affect specific kinds of birds in new ways.
- In Australia, many wild birds also had the virus. Scientists are worried about how it might harm rare birds and spread to others.
- In Brazil, birds in a pet home got sick after new birds were brought in without being kept separate first. This shows why it’s important to keep new birds away from others for a little while to make sure they’re healthy.
Important Words to Know:
- BFDV: A virus that makes parrots lose feathers and get sick.
- Parrots and Cockatoos: Birds that are part of the same family as parrots.
- DNA Test (PCR): A way scientists find out if a bird has a virus by looking at its DNA.
Family Tree Study: How scientists figure out how animals and viruses are related by looking at their DNA.
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