Bird’s droppings, feathers causing lung infection: Cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis rising, PMC warns people not to feed pigeons in open

With cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis rising in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has once again warned action against citizens feeding pigeons in the open as droppings and feathers of the birds cause lung infection.

“Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to micro-organisms from the droppings and feathers of pigeons has increased in the city. Among those with lung infections in the city, around 65 per cent have been diagnosed with hypersensitivity pneumonitis,” states a public notice put up by the PMC near all pigeon-feeding spots in the city. “We appeal to citizens not to feed pigeons in the open. They will be fined if they do so,” it states.

The civic administration has been creating public awareness on the issue for the last few years and even penalised people for feeding pigeons in public. A few months ago, the PMC administration following a demand was reportedly making provisions on the footpath in Bibewadi for feeding pigeons but cancelled the plan after citizens objected.