Psittacosis Europe in 1879. In 1929, a highly publicized outbreak of psittacosis hit the United States. Although not the first report of psittacosis in the United States, it was the largest up to that time. It led to greater controls on the import of pet parrots. The aftermath of the outbreak and how it was handled led to the establishment of the National Institutes of Health. From 2002 through 2009, 66 human cases of psittacosis were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and most resulted from exposure to infected pet birds, usually cockatiels, parakeets, and macaws. Many more
Courage Is Contagious that he wrote the book after being asked by a conservative think tank to write a book about government budgets, and decided to write a more inspirational book instead. The book highlights the surging popularity of volunteering in charitable and civic improvement activities of all kinds. Royalties from the book were donated to fund the work of the men and women who Kasich had profiled. "Courage Is Contagious" was a "New York Times" bestseller in November and December 1998. Courage Is Contagious Courage Is Contagious is a 1998 book by Ohio Governor John Kasich. "Courage Is Contagious" is often compared