Coming into contact with bird droppings is an unpleasant but common occurrence for many people. Bird poop contains bacteria, parasites, and viruses that can cause diseases in humans. However, the risk of getting sick from touching bird poop is generally low for most healthy adults. Here’s a quick overview of what can happen if you touch bird poop and how to clean it up safely.
Can you get sick from touching bird poop?
Yes, there is a small risk of infection or illness from touching bird droppings. Bird poop often contains bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria. It can also contain parasites like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Toxoplasma. Viruses like avian flu are rarer risks.
When fresh, feces from infected birds can transmit diseases to humans. However, the risk is very low from casual contact, like touching dried poop. The most likely health effect is skin irritation or infection, especially if you have any open cuts or scratches on your hands.
What diseases can you get from bird droppings?
Here are some illnesses that have been associated with bird poop exposure:
Psittacosis – Also known as parrot fever, this bacterial disease causes fever, chills, headache, rash.
Histoplasmosis – A fungal infection that causes flu-like symptoms and can affect the lungs and other organs in severe cases.
Cryptococcosis – A fungal disease that most often affects the lungs and brain.
Giardiasis – Causes diarrhea from a microscopic parasite.
Salmonellosis – Causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps from the Salmonella bacteria.
Campylobacteriosis – Leads to diarrhea, cramping, fever, and nausea from Campylobacter bacteria.
E. coli infection – Can lead to stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting from E. coli bacteria.
Avian flu – Highly rare, but can cause fever, cough, sore throat, and potential pneumonia.
For most healthy adults, brief contact with bird droppings may cause skin, eye or mucous membrane irritation. Any flu-like symptoms are unlikely to occur without direct ingestion or inhaling of particles.
Who is most at risk from bird poop?
Some people are more vulnerable to getting sick from bird droppings:
– Young children who may put hands or dropped objects in mouth
– People with weakened immune systems
– Healthcare workers handling bird feces samples
– Poultry plant workers who are exposed to high volumes of droppings
– People performing bird clean-up or removal without protective gear
For these higher risk groups, touching bird poop could possibly lead to more severe infection or illness if exposed to disease-causing organisms.
What to do if you touch bird poop
Here are the recommended steps to take if you get bird droppings on your skin or clothes:
Wash hands thoroughly
If you get bird poop on your hands, wash them right away using soap and warm water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds, including under nails. This will help rinse away most bacteria from the skin’s surface.
Using hand sanitizer alone is not enough, since it doesn’t kill all types of bird poop germs effectively.
Wash affected skin area
For bird droppings on the arms, legs or other body parts, wash the exposed skin immediately with soap and warm water. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the area and avoid spreading the poop.
Shower normally if bird poop gets in hair or other body areas, using soap and shampoo as usual.
Clean and treat any wounds
If bird poop gets into any cuts, abrasions or cracked skin, clean the area immediately with soap and warm water. Apply antibiotic ointment and properly bandage the wound to prevent infection.
Contact a doctor if any redness, swelling or pus develops, as this could indicate a wound infection. Prompt antibiotic treatment may be needed.
Wash contaminated clothes
Machine wash any clothing contaminated by bird droppings in hot water. Use normal laundry detergent. This should kill most germs in fabrics, but discard clothes if heavily soiled.
Monitor health for several days
Pay attention to any flu, fever or skin irritation in the week following bird poop exposure. Seek medical care promptly if you develop any serious or persistent symptoms.
Disinfect any affected surfaces
Thoroughly clean any outdoor furniture, cars, windows or other surfaces contaminated by bird droppings. Use household disinfectant or bleach solution. This will help prevent accidental ingestion and kill any lingering bacteria.
How to safely clean up bird poop
Here are some recommended precautions when cleaning bird droppings:
Wear gloves and mask
Put on waterproof gloves to protect hands, and wear a standard protective mask over nose and mouth. This prevents direct contact or inhalation during cleanup.
Use tools instead of hands
Use disposable rags, paper towels or a plastic bag over your hand to collect poop. Avoid direct hand contact as much as possible. Scoop or scrape droppings into a waste bag using a disposable scraper or stick.
Disinfect surfaces
After removing bird poop, clean surfaces with soap and water, then disinfect with a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) or household disinfectant. This kills any remaining germs.
Seal and dispose waste
Place all collected bird droppings and disposable cleaning items into a sealed plastic bag. Throw bag directly into outside garbage bins while wearing gloves.
Wash hands thoroughly after
Wash hands very thoroughly with soap and water once finished. Be sure to scrub all surfaces of hands and under nails.
Shower and launder clothes
Shower and change clothes after extensive bird poop cleanup. Avoid contact between soiled clothes and clean items. Wash potentially contaminated clothes separately in hot water.
How to prevent bird poop exposure
Here are some tips to avoid contact with bird droppings:
Discourage roosting spots
Install bird spikes, sloped ledges or repellent gel on potential roosting spots like railings, signs and building ledges. This prevents accumulation of droppings.
Clean up droppings promptly
Remove any bird poop quickly before it dries and becomes airborne. Avoid using pressurized water spraying.
Wear gloves and mask when cleaning
Use proper protective gear like gloves and respiratory mask when doing any extensive bird poop cleaning. Avoid hand contact and dust inhalation.
Seal food and water from access
Cover food and water sources so birds cannot contaminate them directly. Rinse containers before refilling.
Watch children closely outside
Prevent kids from touching dried bird droppings. Ensure hands are washed if contact occurs.
Avoid areas with much poop
Stay clear of places with heavy bird droppings accumulation, like beneath roosting ledges or covered parking.
Professional bird poop removal
For extensive bird droppings accumulation:
Hire professional cleaners
Consider hiring professional poop removal services instead of doing it yourself. They have training and equipment to clean substantial droppings safely.
Look for proper protective gear
Ensure pros are using gloves, respiratory protection, eye shields, coveralls and booties during the job. This protects them while cleaning.
Request disinfection service
Opt for add-on disinfectant fogging or misting services after initial poop removal. This further reduces disease risks.
Ask about exclusion installation
Inquire if they offer bird exclusion installation, like netting or spike strips, to prevent future roosting and soiling after cleanup.
Health risks from bird poop – FAQs
Can touching a small amount of dried bird poop make you sick?
It’s unlikely. Brief contact with a small amount of dried bird feces is low risk for most healthy adults. The main risk is skin irritation.
What are the odds of catching a disease from bird droppings?
The chances are very low, estimated to be less than 1% risk, for casual exposure like touching dried poop. Ingesting feces or extensive unprotected exposure increases disease risks.
Can you get sick right after touching bird poop?
No, not immediately. Any related infections or illness would only occur after an incubation period, ranging from days to weeks depending on the pathogen. Monitor health for 1-2 weeks after exposure.
Should you see a doctor if you touched bird poop?
See a doctor promptly if you develop any flu-like illness or skin infection after exposure. Otherwise a doctor visit is not required just for briefly touching dried droppings. Simply wash exposed skin.
How long do germs from bird poop survive outside the body?
Many bird poop pathogens can survive for weeks or months when dried. The bacteria Salmonella can live for over a year in low moisture conditions. Direct sun exposure degrades most organisms over time.
| Disease | Bacteria/Parasite | Symptoms | Incubation Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmonellosis | Salmonella species bacteria | Diarrhea, fever, cramps | 6 hours – 3 days |
| Campylobacteriosis | Campylobacter bacteria | Diarrhea, cramps, nausea | 2 – 5 days |
| Giardiasis | Giardia parasite | Diarrhea, gas, nausea | 3 – 25 days |
| Histoplasmosis | Histoplasma fungal spores | Fever, cough, fatigue | 3 – 17 days |
Conclusion
Coming into contact with bird droppings is generally low risk with proper hygiene. Thoroughly wash exposed skin and clothes to prevent potential skin or eye infections. Monitor health for 1-2 weeks after significant exposure. Seek medical care if any fever or serious symptoms develop. Avoid extensive contact when cleaning up bird poop by wearing gloves, mask and washing hands after. With sensible precautions, the chances of getting sick from bird poop can be extremely low.
