Is there any relation between pigeons, stray animals and human health?
Answers
Pigeons and stray animals are a major hazard to human health. While pigeons often carry dangerous bacteria and virus in their excreta, stray animals pose the danger of transmission of tics, fleas and diseases.
Generally, the excreta of a pigeon contains over a million bacteria that are not harmful to the pigeon’s intestinal tract, but are extremely deadly to human beings.
Similarly, stray animals carry the risk of infection through their bite or the risk of transmission of small insects from their fur and skin on to humans. The most notorious instance of stray animals creating a major epidemic was the Black Plague, also known as the Bubonic Plague. While rats were the initial vectors, they passed it on to several other animals, which further transmitted it on to humans.
Pigeons whether dead or alive, are food for stray animals including rats and cats, and falcons, owls, humans and various scavengers.
That is the reason why pigeons are not often seen lying dead on roads or near trees or dwellings.
They are eaten up instantly. Pigeon droppings are observed to be hazardous for human health if not cleaned.
They can cause Cryptococcosis, Histoplasmosis or Psittacosis.