Can I get sick from touching a bird that had a wound on its back and maggots were crawling out of it?

Question

I'm freaking out!! I tried to help a baby sparrow I found in my parking lot. The bird was sleeping and everuthing but after a while it started to jump and couldn't stay still. After touching it and cares it, I found those maggots eating the poor animal alive! Am I going to get sick from this? How long can live a maggot out of a warm, moist habitat ? Seriously!! This is for real...some one jokes around and I report him!

I killed the bird by the way. One of its legs was turned blue and messed up, plus the maggots...enough suffering. Don't worry, It didn't suffer. I do care about animals, that's why I picked it up in the first place.

Answer 1

You need to calm down. Unless you have a wound on your finger where the infection could get in, or you touched your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching the bird, you most likely will be just fine.

Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with the hottest water you can stand and soap.

If the maggots were on you, you would see them so don't worry about them.

Answer 2

If your worried about the bird flu it comes from an infected birds feces and feathers then the person has to ingest or swallow the germ.
Symptoms in humans
Although there have been too few human cases to determine the exact incubation period of bird flu, it would be expected to be from three to 10 days. The symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to those of regular influenza and include:

* Fever
* Sore throat
* Cough
* Headache
* Aching muscles.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Bird_flu?OpenDocument
The strain of bird flu found in United States proved not to be harmful to humans. There is not report of the deadly virus here.
Just wash your hands immediately. I'd even put a cap full of bleach in a sink of water and wash real good. Wash any area that you may have touched with your dirty hand. I don't think you are in any danger. It will probably bother you more mentally than physically because you can't get the thought out of your head or I couldn't anyway.. Poor little thing. If you notice any fever or dizziness or anything thing out of the ordinary you might go to the doc just for piece of mind..............

Answer 3

It is possible to catch a disease from touching a wounded animal, especially if the wound is infected with maggots, that means the flesh has started to become necrotic (die) because maggots only eat dead flesh. Just wash your hands with a disinfectant soap and wash clothes that may have come in contact with the bird.

Answer 4

Maggots are actually used in medicine from time to time to debride wounds with dead tissue. I have even used leeches this year on a patient! Just make sure that you wash your hands well and don't pick up any more maggots. It will be okay!

Answer 5

AS others have said it is unlikely you will get sick. The maggots were not eating the bird they were eating the infection. Maggots are sometimes used intentionally to clean up wounds

Answer 6

only if you don't wash your hands...and actually the maggots will eat the bad, rotting flesh of the baby bird. It depends on how bad the wound is, but he could actually get better.

Answer 7

I hope you called Animal Care and Control to help the poor bird out. They could probably answer your questions too, but make sure to wash your hands thoroughly, at the least.

Sorry don't know the answer.

Answer 8

You will be fine . Wash your hands etc as posted. But take the bird to the vet if you can afford it or call the shelter So they can care for the bird atleast.

Answer 9

Keep your maggot inside the house

Answer 10

I think you should be fine. But to put your mind at ease, call a doctor on Tuesday morning.