pidgeons & disease

[leersid]

what types of diseases do pidgeons carry and how harmful can they be to humans and other domestic animals

[PurplePixie]

The main dodgy one that I know of for sure is Psittacosis...which is a respiratory thing, It can be passed to humans. I think you can catch it from breathing in the spores off their droppings. Other stuff like fungal infections could be passed to us.

I bet Newforester would know all about this one.

 

[linseli]

Pigeons can carry paramyxovirus (Newcastle disease) which is very nasty for the pigeon, very infectious and can also be transmitted to chickens which then have to be slaughtered in their thousands (there was an outbreak in the UK in the late 90s) but don't think it�s a danger for humans though.

But as well as Psittacosis pigeons are carriers of loads of  zoonotic diseases that can make humans very very sick including Salmonella, Toxoplasmosis, Histoplasmosis, � (and if you�re in North America some species of wild bird (including pigeons) have been found to be carrying West Nile virus - mosquitoes become carriers by feeding on infected birds and then bite and infect humans).

But...   

Even though feral pigeons can carry disease what creatures (including humans) don't? Provided you're in reasonable health and don't spend loads of time hanging around lots of pigeons and their guano you should be OK.

If you're v young, v old, pregnant, ill - anything where your immune system could be weakened - then  it's probably a good idea to avoid them as you would anything unhygienic.

Also  ;there's a difference between the feral pigeon and the ones kept for pets/racing.  Most pigeon fanciers look after their birds like they would their children and do everything they can to keep them fit and healthy! 

[linseli]

Turns out Newcastle disease CAN cross to humans but (only) gives us conjunctivitis if it does. Forget the pigeons - judging by this list we should be more worried about cats and dogs!

http://www.provet.co.uk/health /zoonoses/Zoonoses.htm