Bird droppings on garden a problem?

[kaseyb (Supermom!)]

Reading what I've included below makes me think that infected wild bird droppings on our gardens might pose a definite hazard.....

 

Haven't there been some news stories about people getting BF from the droppings of birds brought in on the bottom of shoes? Seems I've seen reference to that somewhere, but not sure.

 

Here's something interesting from the Los Angeles Animal Services Dept.:

 

http://www.mpah.com/Page12.html

 

Bird Flu and "Backyard birds"

February 2006

What is bird flu?

Bird flu is a virus that makes birds sick. There are many types of bird flu, and most do not infect people, but one type of bird flu called Asian H5N1 can be passed from birds to people. It has recently spread in birds across Asia and into Europe. Since 2003, over 160 people have caught this virus from contact with sick poultry (farm birds), and about half of the people died. This virus is not yet in California, or anywhere in the United States.

If this is a mostly a bird disease, why is it in the news so much?

Scientists are afraid that this virus will mutate and become very contagious between people. If this happens, billions of people could catch the disease around the world. This has not happened yet, but it is already a big health problem for birds outside of the United States and for some bird owners.

How is this virus being spread?

Migrating birds that are infected are thought to be carrying the virus across the world. The virus is in their feces. Poultry that run loose in the open and share their feed with wild birds have become infected and died in large numbers, sometimes passing on the virus to people. Commercial farmers in the United States are already experienced with protecting their poultry, their workers, and the meat and eggs that they sell from diseases like this. Most "backyard bird" owners are not prepared to protect themselves.

What are "backyard birds"?

They are small groups of farm birds, mostly chickens, that people keep on their home property. Many people have "backyard birds" here in Los Angeles County. They are found from Compton to Palos Verdes, from Canyon Country to East LA. They are kept as pets, for meat and eggs, or for illegal cockfighting.

Why is bird flu a special concern for backyard bird owners and their families?

Backyard bird owners live close to their birds and handle them often. They have more physical contact with the feces, blood, feathers, secretions, and tissues of their birds than do workers at poultry farms. They are less likely to wear protective clothing, like gloves and masks, while working with birds. If their backyard birds get infected with bird flu, the bird owners and their families may also get sick.

How can "backyard birds" give the virus to their owners?

If a bird gets infected with the virus, the virus lives in the feces and tissues of the bird. When blood, feces, or tissues from the birds contact the eyes, mouth, or nose of person, there is risk of passing on the virus. A person may handle a sick bird or touch fecal material and then unconsciously touch their own face and get infected. Slaughtering, plucking feathers, and direct contact with bird feces from infected poultry carry special danger. Some people outside of the U.S. caught the virus from the neighbor's chickens when the chickens were allowed to roam loose in the neighborhood, contaminating areas with fecal material.

I have backyard chickens. How can I protect my family from this virus Asian H5N1?

The first step in protecting your family from this virus is to protect the health of your birds. Right now there is no vaccine against the virus for use in birds in the United States, so you must protect your birds in other ways.

1. Keep all types of wild birds away from your chickens and their food and water. Keep your chickens in an enclosure with a solid roof and with sides that can keep out all wild birds and their feces. Do not let your chickens run loose.

2. Keep new chickens away from your chickens. Do not let other people bring chickens to your yard. If you get a new chicken, keep it away from your other chickens for at least a month to make sure it is not carrying a disease. A bird can be infected and not act sick right away. Your hands, shoes, and clothes can carry germs that make your birds sick. Wash your hands and clean your shoes and clothes after you go to a chicken event or after you visit your friends' chickens.

3. Use good sanitation. Keep your chickens out of your house. Keep the chicken coop clean. Clean and disinfect the food and water containers once a week. Wear gloves when you clean the coop and wash your hands afterward. Make sure there is plenty of fresh air around you when cleaning the coop. Do not breathe in dust in your coop - it can carry dangerous germs into your lungs. Do not sweep dried bird feces. It is safer to spray them with disinfectant, then wipe them up. Wash your hands every time after handling your chickens. Change your clothes after handling chickens or after cleaning the coop.

4. Thoroughly cook meat and eggs. Eggs at the grocery store are already washed clean. Before you use the eggs from your own chickens, clean the outside of the eggs with warm, soapy water. Do not slaughter chickens on your property. People in other countries have died after slaughtering chickens that were sick. Cooking kills bird flu and other dangerous germs and makes it safe to eat. Cook meat and eggs completely, with no runny yolks.

5. Report illnesses in your chickens. If many of your chickens are getting sick or dying, report this to your poultry veterinarian or agricultural agent.

What more should I do?

Follow the news. If you hear about a case of bird flu, ask if it is the Asian H5N1 strain (most strains of avian influenza do NOT infect people). Ask if it has mutated to become contagious between people (this has not happened yet). If you know about a group of wild birds dying anywhere in Los Angeles County, please report it to Veterinary Public Health (telephone 562-401-7088, fax 562-401-7112, or at our website http://lapublichealth.org/vet/disintro.htm).

There are many excellent websites for more information on bird flu Asian H5N1.

Comprehensive information about Pandemic Flu and Avian flu:

United States Official Website: www.pandemicflu.gov

Tracking human illness from Asian H5N1 around the world:

The United Nations World Health Organization: www.who.int

Educational Programs about bird health:

UDSA-APHIS Program "Biosecurity for the Birds"

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity/