Your bird is much more susceptible to airborne viruses, bacteria, dust and dander than you are.
Your feathered friend's body rapidly absorbs fumes and scents from room sprays, potpourri, essential oil diffusers and spray-type room deodorizers.
Take special care to avoid:
- Automobile exhaust
- Tobacco smoke
- Glues
- Paints
- Insecticidal fumigants
- Perfume
- Hair spray
Birds have very delicate organs and high metabolism. Compared to people they have very little endurance to toxic fumes.
Air purifiers with Activated Carbon help protect your bird. One pound of activated carbon contains acres of surface area. Acticated cabon may adsorb 20% to 40% of its weight in airborne household fumes and chemicals.
Birds produce a fine powder each time tiny barbs holding feathers together rub against each other.
Bird urine and feces may become airborne when they dry into dust. Inhaling this dust can result in breathing problems for birds and people.
Air purifiers with HEPA filters significantly reduce airborne bird powder as well as normal indoor pollutants like dust, dander and pollen
HEPA is a government standard and means (High Efficiency Particle Arresting). The HEPA standard means that an air purifier removes 99.97% of particles greater than .3 microns in size.
Bird dust is larger than .3 microns and is readily trapped in the HEPA material. |
Zoonoses (pronounced ZO-uh-NO-seez)
are diseases that people can catch from
animals.
Here are some Zoonoses that people can catch from birds.
- Chlamydia psittaci Infection (psittacosis): A bacterial disease associated with pet birds. psittacosis spreads to people by inhaling dried feces. Bird feces may become airborne when they dry into dust. Symtoms may include abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, malaise, myalgia, muscle aches, dry cough and Pneumonia. Infected birds can appear healthy and shed the organism intermittently. Shedding can be exacerbated by stress factors, including reproductive activities, relocation, shipping, crowding and chilling.
- Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, also known as allergic alveolitis or Bird Breeder's Lung. The condition is an inflammation in the lungs and can be caused by exposure to bird dust. Prolonged exposure to bird dust can lead to permanent damage. For example, pulmonary fibrosis, which is a scarring of lung tissue, can be caused by repeated bouts of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Also, people can react to the powder their birds produce. Some species of birds generate more of the powder than others.
Prolonged exposure can increase sensitivity to bird dust. People who have only mild allergic reactions, or no reactions at all, may find themselves very sensitive to their bird and suddenly suffer allergic symptoms.
Some people are more likely than others to get diseases from their bird. Age and health status may affect immune systems, increasing the chances of getting sick. People who are more likely to get diseases from birds include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS, and people being treated for cancer.
Good sanitation and hygiene are inportant.
Clean your bird’s cage liner daily.
If you are in a higher risk category, use
a surgical mask when cleaning your
bird’s cage.
Wash your hands after contact with
birds.
An air purifier with an Ultra Violet Light helps to kill bacteria and viruses. A HEPA filter for dust and particle control is also very important. |
