During August-October, 2018, an outbreak of severe respiratory illness was reported among poultry slaughter plant workers in Virginia and Georgia, USA. A multiorganizational team investigated the cause and extent of illness, determined that the illness was psittacosis, and evaluated and recommended controls for health hazards in the workplace to prevent additional cases.
Keywords: Chlamydia psittaci; Georgia; United States; Virginia; bacteria; chicken slaughter plants; chickens; disease outbreaks; occupational health; psittacosis; respiratory infections; workers; zoonoses.