Many people enjoy feeding pigeons, but they can actually cause a great deal of harm both to the environment and to people's health. For example, according to Ovocontrol.com, a flock of only 100 pigeons can produce over 4,800 pounds of waste each year, and these droppings both deface and speed up the deterioration of buildings. The best defense against this is pigeon prevention, which can help combat this issue and the numerous health issues that pigeons can cause.

1. Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a disease that is caused by a type of fungus that can grow in pigeon droppings. When cleaning up these droppings, it is possible to inhale spores which can cause infection. Symptoms of this disease usually begin to show within 10 days and include chest pains, fatigue, and fever. People with compromised immune systems are at the biggest risk, making it more important to invest in pigeon prevention if you are someone with sensitive medical issues.

2. Cryptococcsis

This is another type of fungal disease that can be spread by pigeons, and like histoplasmosis, it affects the lungs. Although healthy people are unlikely to become infected, compromised immune systems can increase the risk factor.

3. Psittacosis

Also known as parrot fever, this disease is fairly rare and is mainly found in parrots and birds like parakeets and cockatiels. However, pigeons can carry it as well. As the droppings of an infected bird dry, it can be contracted by humans who breathe in the airborne particles. Although it can be treated with an antibiotic, this bacterial disease can cause headaches, chills, rashes, and sometimes lead to pneumonia.

4. Alveolitis

Also known as diffuse interstitial lung disease, this refers to a group of disorders that affect the deep lung tissues causing inflammation. This is mainly found in people who are hypersensitive to bird droppings and feather dust. However, the signs of alveolitis can take up to two years to begin to show, and in some cases won't be evident for 10 to 20 years.

Taking Precautions

While cleaning a small number of droppings off of a windowsill is unlikely to cause any of these diseases, especially if you are wearing gloves and washing thoroughly afterward, those with compromised immune systems should take more precautions. Often, the best defense is a good offense and, in this case, it is preventing pigeons from living and nesting near your location. If you have a lot of pigeons near your home or business, don't wait any longer and get pigeon prevention measures installed to help keep you healthy and your home or business free from potentially contaminated droppings.