Deadly pigeon virus found in Victoria of Australia

 　　CANBERRA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- A rare virus that can be contracted by humans has killed a large number of Victorian pigeons after being detected in the Australian state for the first time, Agriculture Department confirmed on Tuesday.

　　According to the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Mark Schipp, the avian paramyxo virus has already started killing¹ some hobby birds, and threatens to spread to Victoria's chicken population.

　　He said the affected² birds have died suddenly in large numbers and have sometimes appeared tired or have shown neurological signs such as circling or head flicking³ before death.

　　He added that the bug⁴ can also cause conjunctivitis or influenza-like symptoms in humans.

　　"The virus causes only mild, short-term conjunctivitis or influenza-like symptoms (in humans)," Australia Associated Press quoted Schipp as reporting on Tuesday.

　　"Human infection with this virus is extremely rare and usually occurs only in people who have close direct contact with infected birds."

　　At this stage, there are no reports of the virus causing disease in wild birds, but the Australian Wildlife Health Network has been asked to monitor the situation.

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 flicking   

（尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等）

参考例句：

• He helped her up before flicking the reins. 他帮她上马，之后挥动了缰绳。
• There's something flicking around my toes. 有什么东西老在叮我的脚指头。

4 bug   

n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器

参考例句：

• There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
• The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。