The much-maligned feral pigeon is often labelled a health risk,
but those who maintain this conveniently forget that any bird or
animal can carry diseases, but that doesn't mean they actually
do. The other point is that almost no 'pigeon diseases' can be
transmitted to people. The reality is that pigeons pose no
greater health threat than any other bird or animal - wild or
domestic - and, indeed, far less so than pets and our fellow-
humans! Real experts in the field all agree that there is no
tangible health risk to human beings from contact with pigeons:
People who know what they're talking about Those whose
occupation or leisure pursuit involves close contact with
pigeons should, obviously, take sensible hygiene precautions as
should one who deals with any animal, including household pets.
That said, the risk of contracting disease from a pigeon is
minute for the 'ordinary citizen' Pigeon or other bird droppings
in any quantity are, of course, unsightly. In the UK, the RSPB
warns that these are a hazard if