Bird Fouling and Cleaning

The risks associated with bird droppings vary according to the location, so a risk assessment should consider the potential presence of all infectious agents.

It is always advisable for anyone entering potentially infected areas to wear appropriate personal protective equipment.

Diseases associated with birds
Anyone involved in clearing up after feral birds, droppings or their nesting materials in the course of their work, should be aware of the risks of 'ornithosis'.

Ornithosis is an acute, infectious disease caused by the bacterium 'Chlamydia psittaci'. The bacteria live in the gut of infected birds and are passed out in the faeces and in eye and nasal secretions.

'Chlamydia psittaci' can be picked up by humans via the inhalation of faecal dust, or by contact with infected feathers, carcasses or birds nests. The disease organism becomes less infectious with time, therefore active roosts will present the greatest risk to humans. In the early stages, ornithosis exhibits as an influenza - like illness causing fever and bad headaches. The development of a sore throat with a cough, muscle pain, lethargy and depression may follow. If diagnosed early enough, the disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics. However, if allowed to develop, it can become serious, leading to hospitalisation and even death in certain cases.

Of course, ornithosis is just one example of the numerous diseases which can be transmitted to man by starlings, pigeons, gulls and other pest birds.

Treatment
Any clearing-up treatment should be left to a professional pest control company.

An anti-bacterial solution must be sprayed on the droppings during a clean-up operation; wiped, sprayed or mopped over surfaces as a preventative biocide; sprayed on dead birds and nesting materials prior to their removal; wiped over personal protective equipment, spray tanks and other tools after a clean-up operation has been completed. Enserve has the expertise and many years of practical field experience in clean-up operations.

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