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A man was diagnosed with pneumonia after his car was frequently defecated by birds! Doctors say there have been several similar cases.
October 25, 2026, 13:42,(Source: Shangguan News)
Many cars parked outside have become "bird toilets," causing annoyance for many car owners. In fact, besides damaging car paint, bird droppings can also affect human health.
According to Songgang People's Hospital in Shenzhen, Xiao Wei (pseudonym) recently contracted pneumonia without warning. However, upon further questioning about her medical history, doctors found no underlying medical conditions that could cause pneumonia.
Upon further inquiry, it turned out that Xiao Wei's car paint was often covered in bird droppings, and it was those bird droppings that caused his pneumonia.
This is not an isolated case; the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at this hospital has seen several similar cases.
In 2023, a man in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, contracted pneumonia for no apparent reason. After examination, doctors discovered that the infection was caused by the man cleaning bird droppings off his car.
In 2025, Ms. Zhang, a 60-year-old woman from Chongqing, developed symptoms of coughing and phlegm, along with chest tightness and shortness of breath after exertion, which persisted for a month without improvement. A chest CT scan revealed abnormal density shadows in the upper right lung and large areas of consolidation in the lower left lung, suggesting an infectious lesion.
The doctor inquired in detail about Ms. Zhang's recent living environment and learned that she had cleaned up swallow droppings and nest debris because swallows had built nests in her home. This detail led the doctor to strongly suspect that Ms. Zhang was infected with Cryptococcus. A blood Cryptococcus antigen test came back positive, confirming the doctor's suspicion.
How can bird droppings cause pneumonia?
When bird droppings dry on car paint, the Cryptococcus neoformans bacteria inside can be released into the air along with the dust. If a person gets close and inhales this dust, the bacteria enter the respiratory tract and can cause a lung infection, known as pulmonary cryptococcosis, which can manifest as pneumonia.
Most patients recover if they seek medical attention promptly, so there's no need to worry excessively.
Cryptococcal infection
What are the typical symptoms?
Basic characteristics of Cryptococcus: It belongs to the yeast family and prefers moist, nutrient-rich environments (such as bird nests and compost); it has low infectivity and cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Symptoms of infection include lung infection, chronic cough, low-grade fever, and chest pain, which can easily be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis or tumors.
Central nervous system infection: headache, vomiting, altered consciousness (requires emergency treatment).
Bird droppings on the car
Will I get pneumonia if I get close to someone?
Not necessarily, it depends on four conditions—
Do bird droppings carry pathogens?
Not all bird droppings carry Cryptococcus neoformans. Infection is only risked through inhaling contaminated bird droppings (especially pigeon droppings).
The state of feces
Wet bird droppings pose a relatively lower risk; they are more easily inhaled when dry.
Inhalation dosage and method
Occasionally passing by and smelling the bird droppings usually involves inhaling very little, so it's generally harmless. However, getting close every day, or cleaning bird droppings at close range without protection, is quite dangerous.
Immunity
Some people with normal immune systems may be asymptomatic even if they inhale the substance or become infected, and some may even recover on their own. However, people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection and will experience obvious symptoms.
How to clean bird droppings?
It's best to clean it up on the same day it's discovered. Especially in summer when the car body is hot from the sun, bird droppings dry and decompose quickly. If you really don't have time, don't wait more than a day or two.
It is important to note that bird droppings should not be wiped up indiscriminately. Please pay attention to the following two points:
Wear a mask and gloves
Use masks and gloves to block Cryptococcus neoformans as much as possible, and wash your hands promptly after handling the bacteria.
Bird owners also recommend wearing masks and gloves when cleaning bird droppings.
Do not dry rub or forcefully scratch.
First, cover the bird droppings with a damp paper towel and let it sit for 3-5 minutes until it softens, then gently wipe it off. This way, you won't scratch the car paint or stir up dust.
Then just rinse that area with clean water.
Finally, throw away the used tissues and rags after wiping; put them in a sealed bag and throw them in the trash can.
Original title: "Man diagnosed with pneumonia after bird droppings frequently found on his car! Doctor: Several similar cases have been reported."
Column Editor: Zhang Wu; Text Editor: Fan Jing; Cover Image Source: Shangguan Cover Image
Source: Author: Science and Technology Daily
zhttps://k.sina.com.cn/article_5953466437_162dab0450670bfwma.html