Islamabad: Domestic pigeons, long blamed mainly for cough, allergies and breathing problems caused by their droppings, may now be quietly adding to Pakistan’s growing antimicrobial resistance crisis, as studies show these birds can carry bacteria that no longer respond to many commonly used antibiotics.
Studies carried out on domestic pigeons have found bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Pseudomonas in their gut and droppings. More importantly, many of these bacteria were resistant to several commonly used antibiotics. In simple terms, if these germs infect humans, doctors may find it harder to treat them with routine medicines.
Doctors have long warned that pigeon droppings can trigger breathing problems, particularly in children, older people and those with asthma or weak immunity. Dried droppings can irritate the lungs and cause long lasting cough and chest discomfort. Certain infections linked to bird waste can also cause fever and respiratory illness, especially when exposure is heavy and ventilation is poor.
Prof Ahmed Abdullah, a professor at the Health Services Academy, says recent research has changed how experts look at pigeons and public health. “We now have clear evidence that domestic pigeons can carry bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics,” he said. “What is worrying is how these resistant germs are being encouraged by the way pigeons are kept and medicated.”
He explained that many pigeon fanciers routinely give medicines to birds even when they are healthy. Antibiotics are mixed together, dissolved in water and turned into wheat balls that pigeons are fed daily to keep them ‘fit’, active or ready for flying and breeding. “Along with antibiotics, some keepers also use steroids, calming medicines and other drugs,” he said. “This constant exposure trains bacteria to survive. Over time, the germs become stronger and medicines stop working on them.”
Prof Ahmed Abdullah said pigeons pose a special risk because they live so close to people, especially in cities. They sit on rooftops, balconies, window shades and water tanks. Their droppings dry up, turn into fine dust and spread in the air. “People breathe this dust, touch contaminated surfaces, clean nesting areas without protection and then eat or touch their faces,” he said. “That is how germs can move silently from birds to humans.”
“What we are adding now is another layer of concern,” Prof Ahmed Abdullah said. “It is not just about allergies or infections. It is about resistant germs entering our environment.”
He stressed that this problem has gone largely unnoticed because pigeon keeping is not regulated. Unlike poultry farms, there is no veterinary supervision, no guidance on medicine use and no checks on antibiotic misuse. Most pigeon fanciers rely on advice from other keepers or shopkeepers and believe they are doing the right thing for their birds.
“This is not about blaming pigeon lovers,” he said. “They care deeply for their birds. But good intentions can still cause harm if antibiotics are used casually and repeatedly. Every unnecessary dose weakens these medicines for humans too.”
He said Pakistan’s fight against antimicrobial resistance has mostly focused on hospitals, self medication and antibiotic use in poultry and livestock. “Pigeons are being ignored, even though they are kept in large numbers in residential areas and handled daily,” he said.
Public health experts say the solution lies in awareness, not punishment. Routine antibiotic feeding should be discouraged, medicines should only be used when birds are actually sick, and hygiene around pigeon shelters must improve. Wearing masks and gloves while cleaning droppings, keeping nesting areas away from living spaces and limiting easy access to antibiotics are simple steps that can reduce risk.
“Antimicrobial resistance grows quietly,” Prof Ahmed Abdullah warned. “By the time people realise something is wrong, infections are harder to treat and lives are at risk. If domestic pigeons are becoming another source of resistant germs, it is far better to act now than regret it later.”
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