A small health risk can be associated with pigeon contact. Three human diseases, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis and psittacosis are linked to pigeon droppings. A fungus that grows in bird droppings and soil causes histoplasmosis, a disease that affects the lungs.
Can you get sick from pigeons?
Diseases associated with pigeon droppings include Cryptococcosis, Histoplasmosis and Psittacosis. You can become infected with these diseases by breathing in the dust that is created when cleaning droppings.
What are the symptoms of psittacosis in humans?
What are the symptoms of psittacosis and when do they appear? In humans, the symptoms are fever, headache, chills, muscle pains, cough, and sometimes breathing difficulty or pneumonia. If left untreated, the disease can be severe, and even result in death, especially in older people.
