Pigeons could carry deadly bird flu, warns expert
The wild birds, already considered a health hazard in urban areas, are capable of being infected and killed by the H5N1 strain, scientists have learned.
To what extent pigeons are able to spread the virus is not known. But an expert yesterday warned if H5N1 was confirmed in British and Irish wild birds, all species should be at risk.
Dr Bob McCracken, former president of the British Veterinary Association, said: “There is a danger to all avian species, wild, feral and domestic - and that includes pigeons.
“We have at this stage to assume that all avian species are capable of being infected unless we know otherwise.”
Pigeon fanciers could keep their birds indoors, but he was able to offer no advice on how to deal with feral birds.
Asked what could be done about pigeons with the virus infesting London’s Trafalgar Square or other city centres, he said: “That would be very difficult to control.”
Inhaling faecal dust from infected pigeons could potentially present a serious health risk to humans. People who have died after catching bird flu from chickens are thought to have inhaled dried discharges or faeces, or had particles come into contact with their eyes.
Pigeons are already known to spread psittacosis in their faeces - a flu-like illness that can lead to pneumonia, liver disease and death.
Since the present bird flu epidemic emerged in 2003 there have been a total of 173 human infections and 93 deaths.
Experts believe the chances of wild birds spreading the virus to humans are extremely low, but cannot be ignored.
The big fear is that the virus will become capable of transmission from human-to-human, triggering a worldwide pandemic which could claim millions of lives.
