bird and bat droppings

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PENANG - An unknown deadly threat lurks in the old and heritage buildings in

inner city George Town in the form of bird droppings. University Science

Malaysia (USM) zoologist Dr. M. Hiffni said the massive accumulation of bird

droppings in those buildings might prove fatal if not properly disposed of.

He said when renovating, restoring or demolishing old buildings , bird

droppings and other organic wastes must be properly disposed of to avert any

" surprise attacks " by deadly micro-organisms found in such wastes. Ignorant

and careless handling of faecal accumulation can pose a serious threat to

the community. He warned restorers of historic or abandoned building,

construction and demolition workers, painters and all who have to `disturb'

bat droppings, bird droppings and contaminated soil to take appropriate

precautions. Pest birds, including pigeon, crow, common myna and Eurasian

Tree Sparrow also posed health hazards to those staying in relatively new

residential areas if measures were not taken to prevent the birds from

roosting in the area.

The zoologist warned that during the decontamination process in old

buildings, it was important to control the dust spread from dried droppings

as dust could be sucked through ventilators and air conditioners, thus

endangering public health. E.g. the pathogenic fungi Histoplasma

capsulatum which grew in dried pigeon and bat droppings could cause

histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease that might be fatal.

Cryptococcus neoformans, another pathogenic fungi, found in faecal matter

could cause cryptococcosis, a pulmonary disease which might later affect the

central nervous system. He found it would be wise to exercise extreme

caution when clearing bird and bat droppings, Dr. Hiffny said even a

technologically advanced country like the US was not spared from a " surprise

West Nile Virus attack " last year, which took the lives of seven New

Yorkers.

 

 

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