Almost every type of animal has a list of diseases that it carries which may infect humans. Deer Mice Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Inhaling infected dust Pneumonia No human cases in Newfoundland. Diarrhea Common reason for boil orders in municipalities with contamination of water inlets. Sources of contamination can be human or animal feces Pet birds Psittacosis Inhaling feather or fecal dust Pneumonia Relatively common in pet birds, human cases are rare. Wild birds Salmonellosis Handling of carcasses of dead birds, cleaning out infected bird feeders Diarrhea Occasionally outbreaks occur in songbirds.
Human infection is rare.
Common sense approach to handling carcasses and cleaning feeders. Diarrhea Reported across North America, some areas have banned the sale of turtles especially those kept in water. Most often in children that contact contaminated objects or put dirt in their mouths, also can be picked up in sandboxes used by cats. For more information on human diseases or if you have any illness please contact your family doctor or Community Health office.