Live Life Team
In comparison with humans, there are very few ways your pet bird can get you sick. Not very many diseases can pass from a bird to their owner. Usually, when people feel ill around a bird, it’s because they are allergic to birds. A simple test can determine if you are allergic. It is advisable to get this test done before you bring home a pet bird.
Psittacosis (Parrot Fever)
This is an illness that budgies and parrots may pass on to people. To prevent catching psittacosis from a sick bird, you need to keep your hands clean, especially before eating. A sick bird will shed feathers, have watery droppings and be generally listless. Symptoms of psittacosis in people can be confused with pneumonia. It’s very rare for people to get this, and when they do it’s rarely fatal.
Salmonella
This illness is usually transmitted from poultry chicks or ducklings to people. Some pet bird droppings also contain salmonella. So be sure to wash your hands and body if your bird uses you as a toilet. If you have an immune deficiency problem, then stay away from baby birds.
Cryptococcosis
This is passed from bird droppings to people very, very rarely. The culprit is a minute fungus that gets into the droppings and is released into the air when the droppings are disturbed. Some people catch it and it doesn’t bother them very much at all. Some people with immune deficiency problems or children under five years of age can become very ill. Hospitalisation for recovery is required.
