I'm sick with a cold... am I a threat to River? (B&G macaw)

[NightProwess]

I've been down with a cold this past week and have been EXTREMELY careful to wash well before feeding River or letting her out to her play top.
its killing me, not being able to hold her and breaking my heart.
When I walk past she reaches her little foot out and mumbles "up" asking to be picked up. And she'll fly off her stand to where I'm sitting if she can see me or go "searching" for me" when I'm out of site from her cage and she's out and climb up my pants leg or the couch to get to my lap.
I've been sick since Saturday, so it's been a while since I've held her or been able to give her any loving that she's used to.
I've added some apple cider vinegar to her water and been giving her even extra fruits that are high in Vit C to try and boost her immune and prevent any kind of transfer of illness.

my question though:
How dangerous is a common head cold to birds?

I've been very careful to keep myself and germs away from her, even wearing a mask when preparing fresh foods, cleaning her cage or switching toys. My brother has played with her some, but its not the same, she wants her momma.

I feel like I've neglected her...
I know its for her own good... just feel like a bad parront.

Any comments, tips and help would be great.
Thanks everyone

 

[MikeyTN]

It's not supposed to but ever since a incident happened to one of the members off here who got sick and then all his birds died from pneumonia I've been extra cautious and not hold my birds. They get mad at me but I don't want to make them sick. I've been sick since Saturday as well....coughing, sneezing, congestion, etc....ugh.....

 

[RavensGryf]

The common cold isn't a zoonotic illness - can't be transferred between species. Only certain diseases are considered zoonotic (and thank goodness)!

Wonder what the guy had?! Wow, wasn't the common cold!

 

[NightProwess]

If his birdies died of pneumonia then I guess he had a bacterial infection... don't think those buggars would discriminate against whose body they inhabited.

Mines just a cold thankfully, so that's comforting, but I'm still gonna be careful.
Thank you both!!!

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

My vet said viruses cannot be transferred between two different types of animals, but secondary bacterial infections can, so be careful.

The family had the flu in late Dec and early Jan, right when we got our new baby cockatiel, and he was the only one that didn't get it. I pet him, but I made sure my hands were clean, and I didn't bring him close to my face.

 

[NiRD]

I would guess it was a very unfortunate coincidence. Birds hide illness very well, usually until it's too late. My guess is it had the illness before the owner got sick.