Addressing the Recent Spike in Bird Fancier’s Lung in Karachi: Time for Policy Making and Public Awareness

Bird fancier lung (BFL) is a variant of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), an immune-mediated interstitial lung disease (ILD) caused by the recurrent inhalation of avian proteins present in bird excrement, feathers, and serum presenting with cough and dyspnea mainly. There has been recent surge in BFL cases in Karachi with 20–25 new cases reported weekly that a decade ago was 1-2 cases weekly, primarily due to unhygienic pigeon feeding practices in the city. In order to prevent further increase in the BFL cases and the progression of already existing cases to chronic stages, there is a need of timely policy making by healthcare administration ensuring public awareness about the disease and community engagement in preventive health-strategies.