Authorities revealed yesterday that they began tracking down last week some 30 parrots imported from Germany which are believed to be carrying a disease that can be passed on to humans.

Piraeus prefecture officials said yesterday that they had acted to prevent the sale of the parrots after Chlamydia psittaci, or parrot fever, was suspected in the birds. The disease can be transmitted to humans, in the form of psittacosis, which causes mild flu-like symptoms.

Authorities were notified by the Greek Embassy in Berlin on December 29 that the disease had been found at the premises of a German exporter. Seven birds were found at the company in Rendi which imported the birds, but the other 23 had been distributed to pet shops around the country. Piraeus officials said that on December 30, they notified the relevant prefectures to track down the remaining birds.