A man in central Taiwan was diagnosed with parrot disease after suffering from cold symptoms. How common is this? And how do people protect themselves from it? According to doctors, the disease can be transmitted through close contact with the infected bird's feces or nasal discharges, so animal lovers should be extra cautious when handling their pet because the disease can be fatal to some.

For bird lovers, kissing them seems like a natural thing to do.

But it may be a way to get sick too. A man owns a pair of sunbirds.

Recently he thought he was coming down with influenza as he experienced cold symptoms such as cold chills, fever and coughing.

He was diagnosed of having parrot fever, most likely from his birds.

Parrot fever is a zoonotic infectious disease and contracted not only from parrots but other birds.

It is usually transmitted by inhaling dust from dried bird droppings or by handling.

The symptoms are similar to that of a cold.

It can cause meningitis and cardio myopathy.

If left untreated, the mortality rate is 20%.

Recently it's the peak season of influenza and cold-related symptoms could be easily mistaken.

If you do have birds, be sure to keep good sanitary habits.

Parents should keep their children away from birds to prevent the illness.