Pigeon peril in Bengaluru: DK Shivakumar denies health risk, doctors flag cases in city | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: Residents have long battled a pigeon menace in the city, which doctors have linked to rising respiratory illnesses. However, the govt has denied that any pigeon-related infections have been recorded in Bengaluru.Deputy chief minister and Bengaluru development minister DK Shivakumar, in his reply to a query on the issue during the ongoing legislature session, said: “No reports of respiratory diseases related to pigeons have been recorded among the public within the limits of Bengaluru corporations. The corporations also don’t provide any food to pigeons.” He also made it clear that the govt has no plans to ban feeding pigeons in parks and other public spaces, as has been done in Mumbai, Pune, and Thane. Meanwhile, pulmonologists paint a starkly different reality in their clinics. “Patients with long-standing frequent coughing, breathing difficulties, and chest congestion often test positive for pigeon-related illnesses. Blood tests can specifically show the presence of antigens or antibodies that fight pigeon-related infection. We even use skin prick tests for pigeon-related allergies,” said Dr Anusha CM, consultant (respiratory medicine), Manipal Hospital, Malleswaram. She said such cases, which were rare even two years ago, have become routine now. “These cases are especially common among apartment dwellers and office-goers, as the pigeon population is higher in high-rise buildings.” Initial symptoms in these cases are cough, allergic rhinitis, or asthma. However, prolonged exposure to pigeon feathers and droppings can lead to hypersensitivity pneumonitis — a severe lung condition that can lead to lung fibrosis, which causes the lungs to stiffen and shrink and consequently severely affect breathing function. “Treatment often requires long-term care, and some patients may eventually need home oxygen support,” explained Dr Pragati Rao D, HOD & consultant, pulmonology (respiratory medicine), Ramaiah Memorial Hospital. Dr Sachin Kumar, director of pulmonology & critical care medicine, Sakra World Hospital, elaborated on a recent case that makes it clear how reducing exposure, or in severe cases, completely removing the causative agent (exposure to pigeons) is crucial. “A 35-year-old man living in an apartment complex developed an ongoing cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms were noticeably worse when he worked from home. There was a pigeon infestation on the vacant upper floors of his building. A CT scan revealed interstitial lung disease, and meaningful improvement was seen only after the source of exposure was identified. Thorough cleaning of the affected areas and preventive steps to stop pigeon nesting led to a clear reduction in his symptoms,” he said.Doctors also underscored that even those who voluntarily feed pigeons are at risk of infection.
