Pigeon droppings a health hazard: Doctors

Pigeon droppings a health hazard: Doctors

pigeon patrolPigeon droppings harbour a fungus that could lead to hardening of lung tissues in humans and controlling the infection in the birds will help in reducing the incidence of lung diseases in Mumbai, said doctors at a conference in the city to discuss on zoonotic diseases or infections that can be passed between animals and humans.
Doctors stated that the increase in the number of people with interstitial lung disease, or stiffening of the organ, in the city can be linked to the nesting of pigeons.
“We had a hospital employee who after retirement developed difficulty in breathing. As she had a family history of asthma, we first suspected that,” said Dr Amita Athavle, head and professor, chest medicine, KEM Hospital, Parel.
“She was treated and once she went home her symptoms reappeared. She told us that her landlord feeds pigeons, which was actually the cause for her medical condition.” Dr Athavle prescribed the patient to change her residence. “She shifted to Vashi and her symptoms disappeared. To prevent such cases, we need to find a solution to treat the pigeons so that they don’t spread the disease to humans,” said Athavle.
Experts said that several countries to reduce the transmission of such lung conditions owing to pigeons’ advocate fertility control pills to reduce their population. “As pigeons have a 45-day memory, we ask our patients to spread something bitter around their nesting place to stop them from coming,” said Dr Athavle , adding that people with compromised immunity are the worst affected. Doctors said that elderly, people who have undergone a transplant, children and those with compromised lungs can easily develop the condition.
Dr Pratit Samdani, physician, Breach Candy Hospital, said that in several patients’ exposure to pigeon dropping is the cause for developing pneumonia. “Some patient even land up on ventilator support because of pneumonia which is caused by the exposure to such droppings,” said Dr Samdani.
According to Dr Om Shrivastav, infectious disease consultant who was speaking at the conference, adult vaccination is the way forward.
“Childhood vaccination will not necessarily give you prolonged lifelong immunity. Vaccination against influenza is a must,” said Dr Shrivastav.

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

OPINION: ‘Cruel act makes no sense’ Some idiot must have poisoned the pigeons. I counted 11 dead pigeons on the roof.

OPINION: ‘Cruel act makes no sense’ Some idiot must have poisoned the pigeons. I counted 11 dead pigeons on the roof.

pigeon patrolHeartbreaking sight: Hapless pigeons lie dead on a complex rooftop in Margate.

My wife and I are on leave at the moment and went for a walk to the Margate beach this morning (March 21). In the parking area near the tidal pool, we noticed a pigeon in distress with mucus foaming from its beak. My wife cleaned away the foam and gave it water. We then placed it in a safe place and checked on it again after breakfast. It was still foaming and needed help so we took it home, fed it oats, which is the only thing we had available at the time, but we know it absorbs mucus and is nutritious.

We searched for an open vet, but since it was a public holiday, we found none. Upon our return to the flat in the afternoon, we discovered that the pigeon was looking healthy – no foaming and very alert. I took it downstairs and without any hesitation, it flew away. When I got back to the flat, my wife said that I must take a look at the roof of the complex next door, saying she was sure that it was connected to the distressed pigeon we rescued. Some idiot must have poisoned the pigeons. I counted 11 dead pigeons on the roof.

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

 

Cruel-looking’ bird spikes removed from revitalised Shorncliffe Pier

Cruel-looking’ bird spikes removed from revitalised Shorncliffe Pier

pigeon patrolBrisbane City Council has removed “aggressive and cruel-looking” bird deterrent spikes from the recently revitalised Shorncliffe Pier, north of Brisbane.

The 350-metre pier, originally built in the 1880s, reopened to the public last month after a $20 million renewal project.

As part of the project, bird deterrent spikes were added to the tall lamp posts along the length of the pier to prevent birds from defecating on visitors.

Geoffrey Redman from the Sandgate Environmental Appreciation Society said the group had become concerned about the birds being injured.

“They were unsightly and cruel looking,” he said of the spikes.

“This site was known for birds and we needed to get rid of them to save the birds that use the area.

“When we had the pier for the last 100 years we didn’t have these.

“Other bird deterrents I’ve seen have been bird friendly, but these spikes were ugly-looking and the public agreed.”

Councillor David McLachlan, who was in charge of the Shorncliffe Pier renewal project, said the spikes went unnoticed during the opening.

“When the pier was reopened at Easter I didn’t notice at the time and thousands of people that were there afterwards didn’t either,” he told 612 ABC Brisbane’s Spencer Howson.

“The issue was raised to us via Facebook and we made the decision to take them off.”

Finding deterrents for pigeons not easy

Cr McLachlan said pigeons were an ongoing issue for most building managers in Brisbane and finding a deterrent could be difficult.

“When the project team looked at what might happen along the pier, and keeping it clean, they concluded that it’s easier to deter them in the first place,” he said.

“The 340-metre-long pier has a lot of timber work and the lamps are hard to clean along the pier — there’s 18 to 19 posts.

“The design of the lamps has a slight point to it which we hope will now deter most birds.”

He said council would keep the new pier as clean as possible.

“We’ll have crews out there a couple of times a week keeping it clean of bird poo and fish guts,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens on the pier, but at this stage we won’t return to the pier with further deterrents there.”

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Sando court to get facelift after pigeon dropping incident

Sando court to get facelift after pigeon dropping incident

pigeon patrolTemporary work to address the pigeon infestation and roof repairs at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court is expected to begin today.

This was confirmed by the Judiciary in a statement yesterday, following complaints by court users and workers about the current situation at the court building.

Last week, reporters were forced to abandon the press table in the First Magistrates’ Court after pigeon droppings fell on them from a gaping hole in the roof above their heads. And earlier this week, pigeon poop fell on the clothes of another reporter and on a clerical worker.

Pigeons flying through the court rooms while court is in session and intense heat have become a “normal thing” in the courthouse. There is also a large yellow tarpaulin covering the dilapidated roof of the building.

“We are so fed up complaining. We don’t know what to do again,” an employee told the T&T Guardian.

The release stated that the Judiciary, having recognised the age of and the adverse conditions plaguing the court, has over the past years undertaken a number of short-term measures and embarked upon plans for longer-term solutions to provide a safe and comfortable working environment for its staff and for court users.

It stated that a structural survey of the court’s roof was undertaken in 2014 and a consulting engineer recommended work on its structural framework, as well as the replacement of the roof sheets.

The Central Tenders Board has been engaged to tender for design, engineering, cost consultancies and project management/supervision for this project, the release stated.

However, the Judiciary said the work will only be undertaken when the building is vacated.

Court operations are expected to be relocated to a property at 1-3 Court Street, San Fernando, which is currently being prepared. It is expected to be ready for occupation by year’s end, the Judiciary confirmed.

“In the interim, the issues at the current court location, such as the pigeon infestation and the need to undertake temporary roof repairs, are being addressed.”

The Judiciary further stated that work was expected to begin today and would include the installation of louvered windows to prevent the entry of pigeons to the courtrooms.

The Judiciary also said yesterday that progress had been made in the upgrade of several courts, including at Mayaro, Siparia and Princes Town.

The Chaguanas Magistrates Court, on which extensive work has been done, is expected to be completed and re-opened within the next six weeks, it said.

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)

Beware of pigeon droppings!

Beware of pigeon droppings!

pigeon patrolPANAJI: Pigeon population is growing in the city without any growth in awareness among the people that pigeon droppings can cause a lung-related disease.
According to a Mumbai-based news report, dried droppings of pigeons contain spores, which if inhaled may lead to respiratory illness. Their faecal matter is highly acidic and can destroy buildings and monuments.
The report has further adds that daily exposure to pigeons can lead to progressive symptoms like irreversible lung fibrosis and even death.
People feed pigeons as charity, for religious reasons or fun or just because others are doing so, but contact with their droppings could pose a health risk.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a human disease, is known to be caused by repetitive inhalation of antigenic agents found in pigeon droppings.
A lack of awareness on how pigeon droppings can be a health hazard can become a hurdle in diagnosis for doctors.
A well-fed pigeon on an average dispenses up to 11.5 kg of droppings a year. The pigeons are often found sitting on TV antennas, atop AC units, window sills, housetops, eaves, power lines, and in ducts and vents.
They often make nests in buildings and rapidly reproduce. Pigeon droppings are often found deposited on park benches, statues, and cars, and are an aesthetic problem.
To bird lovers, pigeons are hardy survivors in a concrete city; many feel that caring for pigeons is a humane thing to do. But, to households, corporations housed in gleaming high rises and health experts, these birds are pests that test ‘our commitment to cleanliness and disease control.’
There is no NGO taking care of the birds like pigeons, like some NGOs care for dogs, and surprisingly none of the government authorities – forest department and animal husbandry department have woken up to the pigeon menace.
The forest department claimed of not receiving a single complaint of pigeon menace in the city, but urged the residents to avoid feeding pigeons that can backfire, resulting in a serious menace.
An official said that residents need to take long-term measures by blocking their nesting sites and installing ultra sonic sound system to frighten them up.
The CCP said that they do not have any measures to put curbs on unregulated bird feeding that increases pest menace as such food meant for pigeons invariably attracts rats.
Pigeon-feeding stations are slowly mushrooming in the city. It gets started with feeding the birds with grains and leftover food; and while the flock grows larger, another station emerges a little away on the other side of the road. Often we find pavements and roads with mounds of uneaten grains, bread and rice, which attract other animals too.
In the city, one see some major pigeon-feeding stations near Rameshwar Lodge, Hotel Nova Goa, Hotel Kamat, municipal garden, behind Rebello building, new CCP market area and Tonca near Thomas Garage.
These birds are known to return to the place where they are fed and, according to some studies, organise their day around feeding.
Bird experts feel that unregulated practice of feeding and enough spots for nesting are the main reasons for the pigeon population explosion. The other reason being the absence of natural predators.
“The issue of their population has arose as people started leaving grains and food for them. They no longer have to make an effort to find food and a good nesting area, which has made them prolific breeders,” said president of Goa Bird Conservation Network, Parag Rangnekar, who is involved in bird conservation efforts.
“Unless there is a study done to prove that pigeon droppings cause incidences of respiratory problem then it is wrong to blame pigeons for that,” he added.
A resident of Tonca, Ismail Nawar, called for a plan to control the pigeon population.
“People should also be discouraged from feeding pigeons in public places,” Nawar said, adding that it is the only way to prevent overfeeding.
Sanjay Sarmalkar, from St Inez, said that not only are the bird droppings are health hazard, they also do some serious damage to vehicle paint.
“I have to daily wash my car which remains covered with droppings, otherwise, these acidic and grainy droppings can stain and take the gloss off the paint if left for too long,” Sarmalkar added.

 

About Pigeon Patrol:

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.

Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)