Am I going to get some kind of disease?
I was playing with my ducklings. They were being very energetic. I was laughing at them. One jumped up on my face, while I was laughing, so it’s feet landed on my teeth. It sounds weird, but it happened. Now I’m wondering: Am I going to get some kind of bird disease? I wasn’t able to brush my teeth until about an hour later.
Well, if I do get sick, it’s not going to be deadly is it?
Salmonellosis. Salmonella is a type of bacterium that causes salmonellosis. While the most common cause of salmonellosis is eating raw or undercooked meats or eggs, the disease can also be directly transmitted through contact with pet feces, particularly that of reptiles, chicks, and ducklings. In fact the CDC estimates that 70,000 Americans become ill with salmonellosis each year from contact with pet reptiles. Therefore, people who keep these animals as pets should clean cages thoroughly and always wash their hands after handling pets.
With all types of diseases carried by animals, it is important for parents to remember that infants and children under the age of 5 years are especially susceptible to becoming ill. Young children often like to touch animals, play outside in dirt or soil, and touch their faces or mouths – which can lead to illness from zoonoses. In recent years, several outbreaks of illness from animal diseases have been linked to dairy farms and petting zoos where children have close contact with animals. In these settings, it is especially important to supervise children and make sure their hands are washed thoroughly after contact with any animals or soil. Although the risk of contracting zoonoses is small for most healthy people, illness can be avoided by practicing proper hygiene after handling animals, keeping pets and pet play areas clean in the home, and having pets vaccinated and examined by a vet on a regular basis.
Bellinger Birdsong, morning bird calls Winter solstice 2005
