Zombie pigeon epidemic sparks fears of transmission to humans

Zombie pigeon epidemic sparks fears of transmission to humans

Zombie pigeon epidemic sparks fears of transmission to humans
An “epidemic” of pigeon deaths in Moscow has sparked speculation that birds were succumbing to a virus dangerous to human beings. People who came across sick birds paying no attention to cars or passersby described them as “zombie pigeons.”

On Wednesday the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection Service reported that the birds’ abnormal behavior was caused by the so-called “Newcastle disease,” which can spread to humans.

Moscow’s Veterinary Committee said the mass death of pigeons in the capital was due to salmonellа poisoning, an intestinal infection spread among animals and humans. Veterinary specialists detected lesions on the gastrointestinal tracts and livers of the dead birds caused by salmonella, not Newcastle disease, Interfax reported.

Autopsies of dead birds showed that they had all suffered from a common intestinal infection that is not dangerous to humans, said Moscow’s deputy mayor for social issues, Leonid Pechatnikov. Neither the bird flu, dangerous to humans, nor fowl plague or any other diseases threatening people have been found, he said.

Gennady Onishchenko, Russia’s chief sanitary inspector, said that while the word “pigeon epidemic” was often used in the press, he doubted it could described as one. However, he warned that parents should take care if their children could come into contact with sick birds.

close up of pigeon

 

“We are especially worried about children’s playgrounds… And if a dead bird is found on the balcony, it must be washed with disinfectant. Doing this, one must be wearing rubber gloves,” Onishchenko said.

Although the birds’ salmonella is not harmful to humans, direct contact with the sick birds should be avoided, veterinarians said.

“The disease poses no risk for humans, provided standard precautions of personal hygiene are observed and direct contact with sick birds is avoided. Activators of avian influenza and psittacosis (an infection that can be transmitted to humans) have not been identified,” the committee said.

Salmonella infections in humans usually resolve in 5-7 days, but a small number of persons with Salmonella develop pain in their joints, irritation of the eyes and painful urination. The so-called Reiter’s syndrome can last for months or years, and can lead to chronic arthritis.

Newcastle disease, which is transmissible to humans, can cause mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms.

Ornithologists say that the so-called “epidemic” occurs every year, and not only in Moscow. “Most often, it begins in August. This is due to the fact that the breeding season is over, young birds come out with reduced immunity, and they are more susceptible to all infectious diseases,” ornithologist Natalia Anisimova told Russia’s TV Dozhd (Rain).

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Controlling Pigeon Nuisance

Controlling Pigeon Nuisance

Controlling Pigeon Nuisance

The common pigeon (Columba livia) that thrives throughout Missouri and most other states was developed from the European rock dove and introduced into this country as a domesticated bird. When these birds escaped captivity, they formed feral populations. Today, the pigeon is a nuisance and probably the most serious bird pest associated with human habitations.

Pigeons are commonly found around farmyards, grain elevators, feed mills, parks, city buildings, bridges and other areas that provide roosting, loafing and nesting sites. They are also a common sight around home bird feeders.

Problems caused by pigeons

Nuisance pigeon droppings on park benches, cars and buildings are not only unsightly and smelly but also corrosive, particularly to buildings. Large amounts of droppings also can kill vegetation.

Around farms, grain elevators and feed mills, pigeons consume and contaminate large quantities of grain.

Pigeons have been implicated in the transmission of diseases such as pigeon ornithosis, encephalitis and salmonella food poisoning. However, the actual incidence of transmission of diseases from pigeons to people is difficult to assess. Disease outbreaks that are directly attributed to pigeon flocks are rare.

Pigeon manure, if allowed to accumulate for several years, can harbor the causal agent of histoplasmosis, a systemic fungus disease that affects the human respiratory tract. In severe cases, histoplasmosis can be fatal. The external parasites of pigeons include various species of mites, fleas, ticks and bugs.

In addition to being a threat to human health, pigeons can be a threat to human safety, particularly around airports, where pigeon flocks have collided with aircraft, causing human fatalities.

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Pigeon Allergy

Pigeon Allergy

Pigeon allergy: A pigeon allergy is an adverse reaction by the body’s immune system to pigeons. The allergy is usually associated with the skin, feathers or excrement of the pigeon. The body’s immune system produces immunoglobulin E (IgE – an antibody) and histamine in response to contact with the allergen. The specific symptoms that can result can vary considerably amongst patients e.g. skin and respiratory symptoms

  • Avoid contact with the allergen, antihistamines, bronchodilators for asthmatic symptoms
  • Animal allergy is best treated by prevention of exposure to sensitising agents. Where this is not possible, treatment of allergy is dependant upon the type of allergic symptom, the body system affected, and the severity of the reaction

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Why are there so many pigeons?

Why are there so many pigeons?

Why are there so many of pigeons?

Feral pigeons are descended from wild rock doves and their populations have increased, especially in urban areas, in recent years.

Feral pigeons often form large flocks that roost on buildings, ledges and under bridges. They can often be found in loft spaces and empty buildings – anywhere that offers a small amount of shelter. Feral pigeons can breed all year round if food is in good supply and raise between three and six broods of two ‘squabs’ a year. Food is the most important factor determining the size of any pigeon population, and the best known, long term solutions to pigeon problems is to restrict its availability.

What do pigeons eat?

Their preferred diet is grain and seed, but they will scavenge food, take food from bird tables and eat household scraps and discarded takeaway foods.

Pigeons are wild birds capable of finding their own food. In a public area throwing food on to the ground can be considered as littering and will attract rats. Waste human food does not contain the essential vitamins the birds require and can lead to ill health and deformity.

Feeding pigeons in itself is not against the law but it is not necessary. It results in all year breeding that causes overcrowding. If feeding is reduced, their numbers will decline resulting in a smaller healthier flock with less need for drastic control measures.

Please do not feed the pigeons.

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Pigeons Poses Devastating Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Problems

Pigeons Poses Devastating Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Problems

Pigeons problems have devastating effects on the heating and cooling components and indoor air quality of a commercial facility.  Pigeon problems affect employees, maintenance personnel and potentially customers through the HVAC system.pigeon feces

HVAC Systems Make Perfect Pigeon Coups

Unfortunately, rooftop heating and cooling units are a perfect place for pigeons to nest.  To seek shelter from the elements, pigeons typically enter air handler units through the fresh air intakes and build their nests within the HVAC unit.  A single pair of pigeons can generate up to 18 new pigeons per year.  Once a nest is established, pigeons are extremely territorial.

Indoor Air Quality

An HVAC system distributes the air throughout a facility.  The bacteria, fungi and parasites that live and grow in pigeon droppings can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases.  Exposure to pigeon feces and other organic matter such as feathers carcasses and nesting material from the HVAC system may pose a considerable health threat to people who come in contact with them or inhale the airborne particles from them.  Every precaution should be taken to ensure that building occupants and maintenance personnel are protected from pigeon feces.

Damage to HVAC Systems

As pigeons live in the air handler units they peck through filter material allowing unfiltered air and pigeon contaminants to freely enter the ventilation system.  There are numerous damaging problems to an HVAC system from pigeon.

  • Filter banks: Pigeons peck though filter banks allowing for unfiltered air and pigeon contaminants to be drawn into HVAC components and supply air ducts.
  • Fan Blower: Pigeon debris builds within the fan blades decreasing airflow.
  • Air conditioner coils: Pigeon debris compacts within air conditioner coils and clogs the drain pan.
  • Insulation: Pigeons peck at insulation to create nesting material allowing for raw fiberglass fibers to enter the airstream.

How Do You Correct Pigeon Problems?

 

Hire a professional wildlife service or animal control contractor to relocate existing pigeons, and install devices to prevent future intrusions.  Have the pigeon debris removed by a professional air duct cleaning contractor.  Be sure to have the air duct cleaning contractor inspect the supply air ducts downstream of the HVAC unit.

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Neighbors Blame Pigeon Problems…

Neighbors Blame Pigeon Problems…

Neighbors said they’ve done everything they can think of to get this pigeon problems to stop in their Rhawnhurst neighborhood.pigeon on edge of building

They’ve signed petitions. They’ve helped the City of Philadelphia take the case to court.

And still, every day, to put it bluntly, they’re pooped on by pigeons that flock there daily. That’s why they called the NBC 10 Investigators.

They wait on the wire.

“It’s disgusting,” said neighbor Eleanor Hennessy.

To neighbors, it feels like a nightmare scene right out of the old Alfred Hitchcock movie, “The Birds”,but Pigeon.

One look at the deposits left on an NBC 10 News car gives an idea what all of the screaming is about.

“It’s a crime against us,” said Hennessy’s husband, Francis.

And it has been going on for years.

“We’re out there every day washing our cars. Our dogs are getting pooped on, literally,” Cinque said.

“We couldn’t eat in our yard all summer. Kids next door couldn’t swim in their pool. You can’t hang laundry,” Francis Hennessy said.

“I’m working on a story about the pigeons,” said NBC 10’s Lu Ann Cahn as she approached.

“Oh, look, leave me alone. Go away,” said Karen Partain.

Partain owns the Rhawnhurst row home that has become the pigeon palace on Hartel Avenue.

Her husband, Joe Mutoli, wouldn’t answer the door. City health officials said despite six citations, Mutoli has continued to illegally put out a virtual bird buffet.

A seventh citation was delivered while NBC 10 was there.

Cahn said she was told there’s nothing wrong with a bird feeder. But the city said Mutoli has been told numerous times that he’s not allowed to throw feed on the ground and in a public school yard behind his home.

“His response has been that this is something he can do, and also there has been a lot of confrontation with our officers,” said Tara Derby, of the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society.

“This is illegal, yes. There’s no way it’s legal. It’s in violation of the animal ordinance,” Derby said.

Experts said the food has caused the pigeon population to explode and the droppings are a health hazard.

“The droppings contain bacteria and viruses,” said William Ferraro, of the Philadelphia Health Department.

“I usually clean right after nap time,” said a local day care operator. “See, they’re circling now.”

The woman said she is constantly cleaning a small playground where the pigeon poop sometimes comes down like rain.

“If I would miss like one or two areas of droppings, of course the kids would find them, they would touch it and put it in their mouths,” said the daycare operator.

If it’s illegal, why can’t the city stop this?

“It’s the million dollar question,” said Eleanor Hennessy.

Neighbors said it’s hard to catch Mutoli throwing pigeon feed and show the city how serious this is.

So, the NBC 10 investigators sat in an undercover van and waited. It’s difficult to see because it was pitch-black outside, but sure enough at 11 p.m. one night, an NBC 10 crew caught Mutoli grab bird feed out of his garage and throw it through the fence of the neighboring schoolyard.

On video, he’s a shadowy figure. But Cahn said she and other crewmembers saw him clearly with their own eyes.

“You’ve continued to spread bird feed on the ground, and you know that’s illegal, right?” Cahn asked Mutoli over the phone.

Mutoli admitted on the phone that he shouldn’t be doing that and said he will stop. He claims he’s trying to move the birds away from his home and slowly wean them off food.

Neighbors said they’ve heard that before, but it never stops.

City officials told Cahn that you can’t throw a guy in prison for feeding pigeons. But as a result of this story and community pressure, NBC 10 has learned Mutoli is being ordered to appear in municipal court next month where he could be fined thousands of dollars.

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