Is it safe to buy exotic birds like parrots?
An exotic bird bred and raised in the U.S. is a safe choice. Avoid buying a bird from an unknown source because it may have been smuggled into the country. U.S. government officials have banned imports of live birds and bird products from countries with outbreaks of avian influenza so a legally imported pet bird is very unlikely to have been exposed to the virus. However, there is an illegal market for many types of exotic birds, and avian flu virus could be present in smuggled or illegally imported birds. Purchasing birds from a reputable source that can provide documentation on the origin of the bird will minimize the risk. To check which countries are banned from exporting birds to the United States, visit the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service section of the USDA website at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/importing.html or www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/embargo.
