ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY! Our book is intended to educate people about pathogens that cause chronic disease, and how humans acquire the pathogens. We read with dismay in today’s newspaper of a “problem” at an Air Force Base—flocks of pigeons have taken up residence in aircraft hangers, and are creating a “poop problem”. Airmen are ordered to spend at least 90 hours a month scraping pigeon poop off airplanes, the floor, equipment, and surfaces in the environment.
Pigeons are universally infected with chlamydia psittacosis, which can be acquired by inhaling microscopic particles of pigeon poop; or by self-inoculation of pigeon poop particles to the eyes, nose, or mouth, from hands and clothes. Acute psittacosis can cause a mild to severe respiratory infection, many systemic symptoms, an acute eye infection, and even transverse myelitis. Chronic psittacosis can cause many chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, autoimmune disease, eye disease, mental illness, and more.
Those working in the airplane hangar and those ordered to clean the pigeon poop are being exposed to at least 90 hours a month of a pigeon “poop plume”. Those working in the hangers and the airmen who clean the pigeon poop should be tested for psittacosis; and should be part of a scientific study, examining the long-term health consequences of exposure to psittacosis.
About the Author
