More than 60 transmissible bird diseases (some
of which are fatal) are associated with geese, pigeons,
starlings and house sparrows. For example:
Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease
that may be fatal. It results from a fungus growing
in dried bird droppings.
Candidiasis is a yeast or fungus infection
spread by pigeons. The disease affects the skin,
the mouth, the respiratory system, the intestines
and the urogenital tract, especially the vagina.
It is a growing problem for women, causing itching,
pain and discharge.
Cryptococcosis is caused by yeast found
in the intestinal tract of pigeons and starlings.
The illness often begins as a pulmonary disease
and may later affect the central nervous system.
Since attics, cupolas, ledges, schools, offices,
warehouses, mills, barns, park buildings, signs,
etc.. are typical roosting and nesting sites, the
fungus is apt to found in these areas.
St. Louis Encephalitis, an inflammation
of the nervous system, usually causes drowsiness,
headache and fever. It may even result in paralysis,
coma or death. St. Louis encephalitis occurs in
all age groups, but is especially fatal to persons
over age 60. The disease is spread by mosquitoes
which have fed on infected house sparrow, pigeons
and house finches carrying the Group B virus responsible
for St. Louis encephalitis.
Salmonellosis often occurs as "food
poisoning" and can be traced to pigeons, starlings
and sparrows. The disease bacteria are found in
bird droppings; dust from droppings can be sucked
through ventilators and air conditioners, contaminating
food and cooking surfaces in restaurants, homes
and food processing plants.
E.coli. Cattle carry E. coli 0157:H7. When
birds peck on cow manure, the E. coli go right through
the birds and the bird droppings can land on or
in a food or water supply.
Ectoparasites. Besides being direct carriers
of disease, nuisance birds are frequently associated
with over 50 kinds of ectoparasites, which can work
their way throughout structures to infest and bite
humans. About two-thirds of these pests may be detrimental
to the general health and well-being of humans and
domestic animals. The rest are considered nuisance
or incidental pests. A few examples of ectoparasites
include:
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) may consume
up to five times their own weight in blood drawn
from hosts which include humans and some domestic
animals. In any extreme condition, victims may become
weak and anemic. Pigeons, starlings and house sparrows
are known to carry bed bugs.
Chicken mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) are
known carriers of encephalitis and may also cause
fowl mite dermatitis and acariasis. While they subsist
on blood drawn from a variety of birds, they may
also attack humans.. They have been found on pigeons,
starlings and house sparrows.
Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), perhaps
the most common beetle parasites of people in the
United States, live in pigeon nests. It is found
in grain or grain products, often winding up in
breakfast cereals, and may cause intestinal canthariasis
and hymenolespiasis.
West Nile Virus. While West Nile is technically
not transmitted to humans from birds, humans can
get infected by the bite of a mosquito who has bitten
an infected bird. The obvious lesson is that the
fewer birds there are in any given area, the better.
This translates into a smaller chance of an infected
bird in that area, a smaller chance of a mosquito
biting an infected bird and then biting a human.
