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There are over 40 known viruses and 60 transmittable diseases directly attributed to birds and their droppings. Pigeon and starling droppings carry spores of the systemic fungal disease called histoplasmosis, which can be contracted by breathing dusty pigeon droppings or soil contaminated by droppings. It is estimated that in the U.S. alone: 50 million people have had or have been exposed to histoplasmosis each year there are about 0.5 million infections with 5,000 people being hospitalized 800 deaths occur due to this illness. Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease found primarily in pigeon droppings (over 80% of established pigeon roosts have been found to contain this organism. When dried droppings are inhaled, a respiratory disease can occur commencing with a lung infection and spreading to the rest of the body, especially the nervous system. Psittacosis is a bacteria that can cause lung infections and is found in the droppings of pigeons and other birds. It can be transmitted to humans when they inhale the bacteria in the air introduced through air conditioning systems which carry this organism from a bird roost. Nuisance factors – droppings are unappealing to customers and require frequent clean-ups.