A monstrous virus is turning British birds into walking zombies.

The disease causes a variety of neurological symptoms in birds, including a severely twisted neck and trembling wings.

Pigeons infected with pigeon paramyxovirus, commonly known as PPMV or Newcastle’s Disease, become rake thin, have green poo, walk in circles, frequently are unable to fly, and are hesitant to move.

The disease is now thought to be spreading throughout the United Kingdom since certain bird populations on the island of Jersey have had to be euthanized.

An animal sanctuary issued a warning about the “invariably fatal viral disease” and its gruesome symptoms, which do not affect humans but can induce conjunctivitis in those who handle sick birds.

According to a spokeswoman at the JSPCA Animal Shelter on the Channel Islands’ island of Jersey, “There has been an increase in the number of grounded pigeons coming into the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter in the last few weeks, many of which have been showing neurological signs such as twisted neck, circling or are unable to stand.”

“These are all signs of pigeon paramyxovirus, an invariably fatal viral disease that can affect pigeons, doves and poultry (where it is known as Newcastle’s Disease).”

“It is a Notifiable Disease in captive birds (meaning that suspected cases must be reported to the authorities), but not wild birds,” stated the spokesperson.

“Sometimes they will also have injuries resulting from not being able to balance or fly well.”

According to the shelter’s spokeswoman, there is no therapy for the sickness “and many birds die within a few days.”

They said, “Any that do survive will continue to shed the virus and be a risk to other birds.

“The disease is extremely infectious and spread through faeces and other secretions.”

“The virus can survive longer in the wetter, colder months, meaning clusters of cases are more common at this time of year.”

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