The feral pigeon carries a variety of diseases some of which are transmissible to Humans, both from the birds themselves and from their droppings, diseases such as E.coli, Listeria and Ornithosis.
Pigeon faeces when dried can become airborne increasing the risk further of inhalation of diseases like psittacosis. Inhalation of feather dust is an alternative source of infection as is inhalation of an infected bird’s respiratory secretions.
Infection can also be transmitted through handling an infected bird or their tissues.
