In Focus by The Hindu Is close contact with pigeons bad for your health?
Nov 1, 2025
Dr. Lancelot Pinto, a pulmonologist and epidemiologist from Mumbai's P.D. Hinduja Hospital, dives into the debates surrounding pigeons in urban India. He clarifies health risks linked to pigeons, distinguishing between infectious diseases and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The discussion touches on how prolonged exposure relates to symptoms often overlooked, like cough and breathlessness. Dr. Pinto advocates for practical measures to mitigate exposure, such as using pigeon nets and air purifiers, while emphasizing the importance of community engagement over culling.
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Two Distinct Health Risks From Pigeons
- Pigeons pose both infectious and immune (hypersensitivity) threats to human lungs.
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis from pigeon antigens is a common interstitial lung disease in India.
Severe Infections Mostly Hit The Immunocompromised
- Serious fungal infections like cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis mainly affect immunocompromised people.
- Bacterial infections and rare avian TB are possible but uncommon with intact immunity.
How Pigeon Antigens Damage Lungs
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) results from inhaled pigeon antigens reaching deep lung tissue.
- HP causes inflammation, cough, breathlessness and can progress to interstitial lung disease.