Doves: a symbol for peace risks human health

The seemingly harmless gesture of a pedestrian feeding a pigeon with his hand leads to an unknown danger, because these birds can be a source of various diseases.

Pigeons are birds of the Columbiforme order, including doves and 308 other species. They are monogamous, a feature that allows great care of their young and provides a high reproductive rate.

But Enrique Bieberach, from the Zoonosis Department of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), describes pigeons as ‘a plague’ when they form large populations. He said they are like ‘rats with wings ' as they are called in Europe, as they arrive and settle anywhere, damaging roofs, air conditioners and cars.

Their stools are so acidic and corrosive that they can destroy buildings and damage gardens or whatever is in their path, plus they transmit diseases to humans.

AFFECTED IN SCHOOLS

The records so far this year show that at least 22 schools in the city of Panama and the district of San Miguelito have had to suspend their classes because they have been affected by an invasion of pigeons.

According to the Ministry of Education (Meduca), these schools are being treated with cleaning and maintenance of their facilities and also count with the certification of the Metropolitan Health Region.

The involvement reaches the entire country, the report show schools in Calidonia, the area of the Plaza 5 de Mayo, the pedestrian in Santa Ana, the Old Town in San Felipe, as well as on the outskirts of the city in areas like Panama East, Tocumen, 24 de diciembre, Las Mañanitas, north area, San Miguelito and the interior.

Yesterday, the Basic Cerro Tigre Center, located in Arraiján, suspended its classes because of the presence of these birds.

According to some mothers, problems with pigeons began three years ago, but has already become unbearable, until they had to raise their voices because the children and educators are having many illnesses and had to receive hospital care.

“We have children with itching and lacerations from scratching so much,” said one of the mothers.

One of the teachers went to the hospital and had to be taken in a wheelchair because he was prone to respiratory arrest.

Inside the country, for cultural reasons, the population consumes them in soup, because they consider it a tonic.

ZOONOTIC DISEASE

Biebarach details that pigeons transmit to humans at least forty infectious diseases, even with fatal consequences causing lung damage, pneumonia, hepatitis or brain disease.

Their droppings, feathers and other agents, such as lice and ticks on their bodies remain and transmit fungi, bacteria and parasites, added the specialist.

The most affected are children, the elderly, people with HIV, cancer and diabetes patients because their immune system decreases.

The greatest danger is in having direct contact with the droppings and inhaling the microscopic dust, as he explains.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Rosabel Miró, director of the Audubon Society, said that when animals are causing harm to people or the environment, actions should be taken accompanied by scientific knowledge, but not directly removing them.
There are mechanisms, he says, the control the proliferation of these birds, such as installing fences with barbed wire and tens.
To Bieberach, the authorities and animal protectionists should promote agreements and laws that strengthen health education, so that when pigeons arrive to their homes or schools, people avoid giving them food.
Also, they should use a contraceptive treatment (powder that is added to the food they are given), as used in Spain, the United States, Chile and other countries, to control the pigeon population in certain areas.

PREVENTION EVALUATED

The Ministry of Education is evaluating the development of a program to eradicate the proliferation of these birds. Even if it was consulted, they chose not to give more information.
So far, when a team is affected by doves, a company that is responsible for cleaning and arrangement of infrastructure is looked for.
The measure is the same in each school; classes are suspended and students, faculty and staff are sent to the health center.
It is recommended not to feed these birds to avoid their return to the site in search of more food.

We consulted the Ministry of Environment and the Municipality of Panama and both entities denied responsibility for this problem.

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“If animals are causing harm to people or the environment actions should be taken with scientific knowledge.”

ROSABEL MIRÓ

AUDUBON SOCIETY OF PANAMA

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