10 Diseases You Can Get From Ducks

Birds like ducks can carry various diseases. Some can be quite fatal and even transmitted to humans, and it’s something that surely will make you worried. I found 10 diseases you can get from ducks that transmit. Here is the list:

Avian Influenza
Salmonella
Psittacosis
Colibacillosis
Cryptosporidiosis
Campylobacter
Newcastle Disease
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Plague
Avian Cholera.

If you get affected by such diseases, taking immediate treatment is what you need. Besides, I have some precautions when you have pet ducks in the yard. So, read this article and make sure you have a safe journey with your backyard ducks.

10 Diseases You Can Get From Ducks

Keeping ducks as a companion is good until they fall sick. While doing extensive research, I found ducks not only drown with sickness in them, but they spread it in the human body.

Not only the backyard but also the wild ducks come closer to us and may unintentionally transmit their diseases.

Important Note: Try to avoid remaining too close to the ducks, geese, and chickens. It’s what the Forbes study about transmitting diseases in humans by ducks says. Most importantly, getting closer to the feathered friends resulted in salmonella infection in humans.

However, I got some more studies related to ducks other diseases’ impact on duck owners.

1. Avian Influenza (Bird Flue)

Ducks are vulnerable to Avian Influenza Virus (AIV). Such diseases can affect both the backyard pet ducks and the commercial poultry ducks in the firm. The disease triggers the duck by infections or pathogenic strains that cause respiratory problems, lack of appetite, weight loss, and even thirst.

The video can help you identify the Avian Influenza in ducks.

But the disease won’t be last in your ducks only. It transmits to humans and potentially causes bronchitis or pneumonia in them. But it’s quite rare, and the wild birds are in serious danger of avian influenza.

How to Recognize?

What To Do If The Pet Owner Get Affected By AIV?

Ensure proper hygiene, as well as avoid contacting dead or sick ducks with the AIV.
You may need treatment, rest, or sometimes pain relief medicine.

2. Deadly Salmonella

This is the mostly seen germs in young poultry ducklings and chick droppings, Salmonella bacteria in ducks is a deadly disease for humans as well. It can be infected to people by surfaces like doorknobs or countertops.

Usually, it happens when humans eat foods with animal feces. And sadly, around 40,000 cases are found in the US each year. The given video may help you to understand some facts about such diseases.

If it is transmitted to humans, they usually face health issues such as:

Fever
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Abdominal cramps
Possibly blood poisoning or even death.

According to Hopkins Medicine Studies about Salmonella bacteria, People may have reactive arthritis or Reiter’s syndrome. It includes:

Joint pain
Eye irritation
Painful urination.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Get Affected By Salmonella?

Hygiene practice is always a first-class idea.
Seeing a doctor is the immediate solution as it’s a fatal disease.
Most commonly, antibiotics are the best treatment.

3. Psittacosis Or Ornithosis

Although considered parrot fever, poultry birds like ducks and turkeys are more prone to face such sicknesses. Ducks carry the bacterium Chlamydia Psittaci and transmit the disease to humans and cause respiratory issues.

Here is the problem to note down! You cannot detect the specific signs or symptoms! Worried? To be specific, mostly it’s confirmed when someone is infected by breathing.

It happens due to ducks dropping and dry secretions. Or maybe when ducks try to bite you or you come into contact with their beak or mouth. People who are at the risk of having Psittacosis the most are:

Poultry workers
Bird owners
Veterinarians
Aviary or pet shop worker.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Get Affected By Psittacosis?

Taking antibiotics is okay.
Rarely, you may need hospital care if you face Pneumonia, Hepatitis, Endocarditis, or Inflammation problems.

4. Colibacillosis Bacteria

Are your ducks losing hatchability? Noticing they have an infection of the yolk sac or septicemia at 2 to 8 weeks of age? Well, it’s an infection we call Colibacillosis that can also be transmitted to humans. It enters the human body by surfaces, water, or food.

It’s basically an Escherichia Coli bacteria that enters the gastrointestinal tract and causes health difficulties such as:

Lack of appetite
Weight loss
Lethargy in ducks.

But in humans, you may notice:

Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Vomiting.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Get Affected By Psittacosis?

Antibiotics such as doxycycline or tetracycline are the easy killer of such bacteria.
Good hygiene, remaining clean, and carefully handling the poultries can be the best prevention ideas as well.

5. Cryptosporidiosis Parasite

Cryptosporidiosis is a microscopic germs parasite known as cryptosporidium parvum. It also contaminates surfaces, soil, food, water, or in dirty hands. More specifically, feces of ducks or humans get infected with such parasites.

In general, such parasites target the gastrointestinal tract, so diarrhea is a common issue when humans are under the parasite trap. Sadly, it’s deadly for ducks, but humans will have watery diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting problems.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Gets Affected By Cryptosporidiosis?

Ensure the affected people have enough water and electrolytes.
Good hygiene is necessary.
Disinfect the surfaces with such parasites.

6. Campylobacter

Another bacterial disease is mostly found in the intestines of ducks, and it’s actually known as Campylobacteriosis. While researching, I found NCBI saying that according to a UK study, 50.7% of duck meat is contaminated with diseases like Campylobacter. So, I didn’t miss including this bacterial issue on the list of diseases you can get from ducks.

While staying in ducks’ bodies, Campylobacter also contacts the human body and causes food poisoning. If humans have this, you’ll see:

Diarrhea
Cramping
Fever.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Gets Affected By Campylobacter?

Get some antibiotics from the doctor.
Proper handling is necessary when ducks have this bacterial disease.
And maintaining hygiene is crucial, as always.

7. Newcastle Disease

Newcastle disease (ND) is another infectious, contagious, and lethal sickness in avian species like ducks. The infected birds spread it to ducks, and it is contaminated by equipment, water, or food. So, humans are in danger as well, but it’s not fatal for them.

Usually, ducks lose their appetite, become thirsty, start to sneeze and cough, and sometimes become paralyzed or possibly found dead. But in humans, they’ll face flue like:

Fever
Headaches
Muscle aches.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Gets Affected By Newcastle Disease?

As it’s a virus, seek professional medical consultancy.

8. Eastern Equine Encephalitis

The virus has a bad habit of affecting poultries like ducks. Same for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus that I found ducklings get infected. And sadly, the mortality rate can be 2 to 60%!

Such viruses affect not only ducks but also humans and target the nervous system. It usually transmits through mosquito bites that commonly cause neurological issues.

Ducks face paralysis, convulsion, and even death. But in humans, it makes them weak and causes illnesses like:

Seizures
Headache
Fever
Coma.

Surprisingly, in the US, on average, 11 humans are affected by this virus each year. You can check the Virginia Department of Health Studies for more clarification about EEE transmission in humans.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Gets Affected By Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

No specific treatment, but clinical support can aid easily.

9. Duck Plague

Caused by herpes virus, duck plague (DP) or duck viral enteritis (DVP) is fatal as death! Matured ducks are more prone to get affected by this contagious disease.

Such viruses cause greenish diarrhea, paresis, extreme levels of thirst, dehydration, trembling, or even death in ducks. In rare cases, zoonotic transmission can happen in humans.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Gets Affected By Duck Plague?

Take medical attention, and you’ll be good.

10. Avian Cholera

Not a contagious one, but fowl or avian cholera can trigger the humans as well. It cause by Bacterium Pasteurella Multocida. So, I included it on the list of diseases you can get from ducks. It basically happens during winter and springtime and from the wild or domestic ducks. Ducks face health difficulties like:

Difficulty breathing
Nasal discharge
Soiled or matter feathers
Lethargy
Erratic activities
Bloody feces
Convulsions.

Although extremely rare, humans can have this, and they’ll face health problems such as:

Respiratory Infections that cause difficulty breathing or coughing.
Skin infections due to bacteria entrance.
Eye infection or conjunctivitis due to the exposure of the bacteria that cause cholera.

What To Do If The Pet Owner Gets Affected By Avian Cholera?

Maintaining hygiene is a must.
You can say it to a healthcare expert to get some advice as well.

7 Preventative Ideas To Avoid Getting Infected By Ducks Disease

So, I am done with sharing all the extreme diseases you can get from ducks. But not all of them are fatal to hurt humans too badly. However, you need to be careful while keeping ducks. Besides, I have some preventative ideas for you!

1. Neat and Clean Hand

Always wash your hands with soap and water whenever you take the duck, feed food, or clean their feces.
Using gel sanitizers or alcohol-based hand wipes can be an effective idea.
Best if you wear gloves while doing such jobs.

2. Proper Temperature And Type Of Food

Always ensure to keep the internal temperature around 165° F (73.8° C) while eating poultry meats, eggs, or seafood.
Cooking them properly is a must, as less cooking can carry bacteria from duck disease that contaminates humans.
Avoid consuming unpasteurized or raw dairy products like milk.

3. Keeping Cages And Their Habitat Clean

Keep the domestic duck area neat and clean to lessen disease transmission. And remember, they are messy creatures!
Avoid unnecessary exposure, and always be sure to clean dirt or feces that can carry diseases.
Cleaning cages is more important for ducklings as they have developed immunity and may have problems with unclean environments.
Try to avoid using the kitchen sink to clean the duck supplies that you provide.

4. Isolating Affected Ducks

Sick ducks must be kept in an isolated place from the rest of the flocks as they can transmit disease to others.
Give the sick duck the ideal treatment, and veterinarians can do it very well.

5. No Overcrowding

Any duck may carry disease, so don’t let them overcrowd the area.
Try to offer enough space to roam around the yard.
Keeping a limited flock of ducks is safe. For example, small backyard flocks shouldn’t cross over 20 birds. In the case of medium flocks, keep 20-90 birds and large flocks usually carry 100 to 999 birds.

6. Vaccinating Them

If the duck is sick, give them a vaccine, as it’s a good curable idea.
Contact the vet for other treatments.

7. Using PPE

When handling ill ducks ducks, Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a great idea.
Keeping Gloves, Masks, Eye protection, or Gowns will be enough.
PPE is also necessary when cleaning their pen or coop.

Related Readings:

Final Words

You are afraid of keeping ducks in your yard for disease transmission, so I covered diseases you can get from ducks. Diseases like avian influenza, salmonella, and other different bacteria and viruses are to blame for contamination through food, water, or contact. Although the diseases are fatal for ducks, it’s not for humans.

If duck diseases make you sick, mostly antibiotics or medical care can cure you quickly. Besides, preventative ideas like washing hands, using PPE, and monitoring ducks are what resolve almost everything.

Sources & References:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-birds.htm
https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/Pubs//334-072.pdf

10 Diseases You Can Get From Ducks

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