Birds Carry Significant Health Threats

Bell Bird Control prevents exposure to bacteria and viruses that harm people by preventing birds from landing on buildings and cleaning up bird nests, droppings, and waste. Bird exclusion stops the disease-causing organisms commonly found in bird droppings from spreading to a building's occupants and employees. Learn more about the risks of bird exposure below.

There is a current threat of Avian Flu in the US that is of growing concern to experts and the public. This disease has jumped to people in a growing number of cases. Bird Flu has been a significant issue for our food supply, farmers, and consumers since 2022, causing egg and poultry prices to spike (and keep rising) as millions of chickens and turkeys were euthanized. Avian Flu now affects dairy cows and livestock. It was alarming news that the USDA wanted to test our milk supply for Avian Flu. Experts believe that Bird Flu could be the next pandemic for people as this disease leaps from birds to mammals (including cats) to humans.  The risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is rising (The H5N1 bird flu sample in an infected person showed mutations that may help the virus bind to cells in the upper airways of people.) Bird control solutions lessen our exposure to this virus.

Bird deterrent systems guard residents against Sick Building Syndrome. Sick Building Syndrome is a set complex symptoms and health deficiencies that people can experience when inside particular buildings. Over 60 diseases associated with pest birds can be spread to thousands of people simultaneously when bird droppings accumulate in or near HVAC systems. Heating-Ventilation-Air Conditioning systems can then easily spread disease-causing organisms to every occupant in the building. In many instances, tenants of "Sick Buildings" are at risk for serious and sometimes life-threatening illnesses.

Some of the most common illnesses that result from exposure to bird droppings are Tuberculosis, Encephalitis, Meningitis, Chlamydiosis, Salmonellosis, Fowl Typhoid, Fowl Cholera, Newcastle Disease, Pullorum Disease, Histoplasmosis, Spirochetosis, Streptococcus, and Q Fever. However, most occupants and maintenance workers of these buildings pre­dominantly suffer from repeated eye infections, burning eyes, respiratory distress, and headaches.

Urban pest birds promote the transmission of several types of diseases and illnesses. These nuisance birds (pigeons, starlings, crows, house sparrows, and gulls) transmit diseases in many ways. Bird droppings contaminate food and water, dried droppings contain dormant fungi and/or bacteria. Bird excrement causes respiratory infections (Psittacosis) in lunch areas when people breathe them. Birds carry 22 zoonotic organisms, of which at least seven affect the human respiratory system.

Ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, and mites) live on and with urban pest birds will migrate into living and working environments to bite people.

Several thousand cases of food poisoning (Salmonella) occur every year. Food poisoning is caused by the Salmonella bacterium getting into exposed food. A main source of the Salmonella bacteria is dried fecal dust from air vents covered in bird droppings. In 2021, the Center for Disease Control warned of a Salmonella outbreak linked to wild songbirds.

Cryptococcosis in humans usually begins as a primary infection of the lungs. When the involvement becomes apparent, the symptoms may include cough, chest pain, weight loss, fever, or dizziness. Most cryptococcal infections occur from inhalation of the fungus along with the dust from areas exposed to pigeon droppings.

When birds get inside stores, hangars, and garages their droppings often fall onto painted surfaces This leads to risks of employees slipping on wet droppings and a workplace safety risk.

Accumulations of bird droppings on sidewalks, steps, and fire escapes may render them hazardous. There are numerous instances where the sidewalk actually became slippery underfoot.