Psittacosis is an uncommon infectious disease that is most often transmitted to humans through exposure to infected birds, especially parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and similar pet birds. Psittacosis can affect the lungs and may cause inflammatory illness of the lungs (pneumonia). Additional common symptoms include fever, muscle pain (myalgia), headaches, and a dry cough. Psittacosis is caused by infection with the bacterium, Chlamydia psittaci, and may also be known as ornithosis. It is rare among humans. People who own birds as pets are most likely to be affected by psittacosis.
Prior to the October 2013 eruption, the last notable eruption from Mount Etna was in 1992. In total, there are about 3 active volcanoes in Italy that spew lava intermittently: The Vesuvius volcano close to Naples, Stromboli and Mount Etna in Sicily.
On Sunday, December 28, 2014 Italy's Etna volcano produced a brief but the most intense eruption of the year, the strongest since December 2, 2013. The activity started rather abruptly at about 16:50 UTC and has rapidly intensified, accompanied by a sudden increase of volcanic tremors.