Living near the birds can lead to diseases in humans

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Health

Concept:

Recently, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) in Maharashtra put up several posters warning people against feeding pigeons in order to spread public awareness about hypersensitive pneumonia, a lung disease which is contracted by living near pigeons.

Diseases spread by proximity to Pigeon

Pigeons may lead to various kinds of lung diseases, ranging from respiratory allergies to serious infections.
Severe cases may lead to Pneumonia-Psittacosis, which is a bacterial infection
Hypersensitive pneumonia (a lung disease which is contracted by living near pigeons) (also known as Pigeon Breeder’s Disease)
Histoplasmosis (fungal infection with high mortality rates)
Cryptococcal infections (it may lead to pulmonary or meningeal infections)

How does residing near pigeons lead to disease among humans?

Being in the proximity of birds including pigeons can lead to diseases, especially if they are in the home as companion birds or in heavy numbers in the vicinity of the home with droppings and feathers accumulating nearby.
The breathable antigen arising from the bird droppings and feathers goes into the lung and leads to an immunological reaction, which damages the lung.