Virus threatens rare parrot

WAGGA WAGGA, Australia, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A virus is threatening the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot in Australia.

The common stomach virus found in many Australian birds is striking the orange-bellied parrot at a breeding program for the bird. The virus causes the birds' immune system to break down.

Shane Radial, a professor of Veterinary Science at Charles Sturt University, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. an outbreak of the disease in the captive breeding program could be fatal for the species, as there are only 50 birds left in the wild.

In captivity "infections just find it easier to spread from one bird to another," he said.

Radial says there is no known cure for the virus.

The Zoos Victoria Web site says there are 160-170 of the birds in the breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo and Taroona (Tasmania).