Health Risks

General

Birds carry zoonotic diseases (i.e. diseases which are transmissible from animals to humans).  While many of these may only cause mild symptoms in humans, some are potentially lethal, especially to the young, the elderly and those with underlying health issues.

Birds & Insects

Wherever birds exist in any great numbers, so too do several species of insects, all of which have the potential to be injurious to human health and wellbeing.

Main Diseases Spread, or Caused, by Birds

• “Bird ‘Flu” (Avian influenza)
• Allergic alveolitis (EAA)/“Bird Fancier’s Lung”)
• Aspergillosis
• Campylobacter
• Cryptococcus neoformans
• Escherichia coli (E. coli)
• Histoplasma capsulatum (Histoplasmosis)
• Listeria (Listeriosis)
• Newcastle Disease
• Ornithosis
• Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis
• Psittaci (psittacosis/ornithosis/”Parrot Fever”)
• Salmonella (Salmonellosis)
• West Nile Virus

Some of these diseases may cause serious illness, and even death, in humans, particularly in children and senior citizens.