Ravens carry numerous infections that can be caught both by direct contact with a bird or simply by touching a fallen feather. This was told socialbites.ca for analysis by Svetlana Mashkova, candidate of medical sciences, specialist in infectious diseases, medical director of the INVITRO-YUG private clinical laboratory network.
According to Mashkova, it is better not to come into contact with a crow, since contact with a bird can cause ornithosis, an acute infectious disease whose reservoir is wild birds. Ornithosis can be transmitted by both apparently sick (stagnant, wrinkled) and apparently absolutely healthy birds.
The doctor stated that the ornithosis was caused by the bacteria Chlamydophila psittaci. In crows, the pathogen is excreted in the feces and spreads on the feathers as the raven’s beak spreads the feces all over the body.
Mashkova emphasized that ornithosis can be transmitted by airborne dust, for example, when bird droppings mix with dust: they dry up, and when birds take off, the dust is carried by the wind. The places where the risk of contracting a psittacosis infection is highest are where the birds congregate: for example, on rooftops.
In addition, the doctor warned of the danger of ornithosis infection in contact with the fallen feathers of crows. Children are particularly vulnerable in this respect.
“Ornithosis can be found in the fallen feather of a crow and the feather of any bird. You don’t need to play with these feathers. “Allowing contact with fallen feathers means increasing the risk of ornithosis contamination tenfold,” he said.
The doctor recommended not to process the pen, as the result of the procedure is not yet known. The easiest way is to throw away the pen and wash your hands with soap and treat them with an antiseptic.