Urban
birds are very effective agents of spreading infectious
diseases due to their very mobile lifestyle and proximity
to humans. More than 60 infectious diseases have be
found in birds include Encephalitis, Meningitis, Salmonella,
Avian Flu, West Nile Virus, etc. (see links below).
These diseases are mostly transferred by bird feces
which contaminate air, water and food products ingested
by humans: Air conditioners and ventilators suck fecal
dust into buildings contaminating food and air, open
drinking water reservoirs get contaminated by water
fowl, high pressure hosing of dirty cars and surfaces
suspend fecal debris into the air.
There
are more than 40 types of parasites living on birds.
Avian mites can transfer various diseases to humans
such as Encephalitis, Lyme-disease, West Nile Virus
and Meningitis. Most of these parasites live on the
birds and at their nest sites. When birds living in
the attic die from various avian infections the avian
mites will readily seek alternative food sources,
which means they can enter buildings and homes to
feed on humans and pets.
An untold number of
human salmonella infections are attributed to urban
birds and as well as many “colds” “influenzas”
and “pneumonias”. Most of these maladies
are not rightfully contributed to bird origin and
are not registered or investigated, as they do not
involve the health care system. The more severe cases,
where long term hospitalization and even death are
the result of an infection, this naturally draws the
most attention. As diseases constantly mutate and
adapt to new hosts more diseases from the avian world
will cross the bird/human boundary and become a possible
health concern like the current Avian Flu H5N1.
