What illnesses do pidgeons spread?

Question

What illnesses do pidgeons spread?

Answer 1

Pigeons carry diseases, which is probably why they have been referred to as flying Pigeons. Ornithosis, encephalitis, Newcastle disease, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis and salmonella are just a few of the illnesses spread by contact with pigeon p**p and dead pigeons.  

Cryptococcosis, one of the commonly carried pigeon diseases, infects the lungs of humans. It is transmitted by inhaling the yeast-like cells of the organism. Cryptococcosis can also cause acne-like ulcers on the skin.

Histoplasmosis is a fungus disease contracted through airborne spores in pigeon droppings. If pigeons have been on your roof for a while, these spores can even infect the soil you garden in down below. Its symptoms may be anything from a mild influenza to blood abnormalities and fever, or even death. An eye condition has been linked to the bird disease histoplasmosis and can lead to blindness in those who contract it.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection that invades human tissue and can severely damage the central nervous system, especially in babies. Pregnant women are in extreme danger if infected with toxoplasmosis.

Ornithosis causes fever, chills, fatigue, a rash and lung problems such as shortness of breath and a cough. It can also lead to rales, which are small clicking, bubbling or Pigeontling sounds coming from a portion of the lung.

Little critters can also get a ride on a pigeon’s back and the closer you are to the birds, the more chance you have of coming into contact with mites, ticks, fleas, lice and other nibbling insects.

Several cases of mites biting humans indoors have been reported.

Ticks are very mobile and have been known to crawl down into buildings that pigeons are roosting on, and travel great distances to attach themselves to people.

If a pigeon brings fleas into your home, most likely the biting bug will hop onto your house pet’s back. Once inside, large flea populations can build up quickly. Fleas live on the outside of their hosts’ bodies and need to feed on blood in order to produce eggs.

Pigeon lice are not capable of living off a human host, but they do bite humans on occasion.

A pigeon bug living in a nest can become an infestation in your pantry or carpet in no time. One or two mites may stray from the pigeon’s nest and crawl along your kitchen table. But if the pigeon abandons its nest for any reason, the whole caboodle of bird bugs will enter your home, looking for a new host. This is why it’s especially important to have our pigeon-control experts remove bird nests and other garbage after all the pigeons have been trapped.

Pigeons are a liability for businesses and restaurants. Pigeon diseases or pigeon bugs may infect your employees, guests or food. There are documented cases of illnesses occurring in these situations, and the plaintiff successfully sues the owner of the business. Also, if you are an employer and your workers’ environment is being contaminated by pigeons, you may see a drop in productivity due to illness.