In one of the strangest stories in a while, two men have sadly died after contracting a type of pneumonia from using an unusual type of fertilizer.
They used bat poop. Yes, you read that right: they used bat poop to fertilize cannabis plants.
The unnamed men became gravely ill after coming into contact with the bat droppings, also known as guano, and it proved to be fatal.
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They were diagnosed with the Histoplasma fungus.
University of Rochester researchers wrote in a recent report: “Exposure to bat guano among cannabis growers appears to be a recent trend that can lead to histoplasmosis cases and outbreaks.”
One of the victims was 59 years old and developed a breathing condition called emphysema.
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He also presented arthritis, and was admitted to hospital suffering from respiratory failure.
The patient reported that he had been losing weight for six weeks in the run-up to it, and also had difficulty swallowing.
Medics treated him for pneumonia and a bacterial infection, but he needed to be put on a ventilator machine.Tissue samples were taken from the patient, which revealed he was infected with fungi as seen with histoplasma.
The man revealed he had bought bat guano from an online store, in the weeks leading to him going into respiratory failure.
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The other man who died had developed a disorder which slowed his blood flow to his arms and legs.
He also suffered from a 'chronic cough'.
“Remarkably, the patient reported a heavy bat infestation of his attic with a thick layer of guano that he inspected on multiple occasions intending to use it as fertilizer for his cannabis plants. He denied other potential exposures to Histoplasma", researchers wrote.
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He was also treated for suspected histoplasmosis.
After being discharged, he was readmitted with abdominal pain. He later died of a condition where blood flow to the intestines is reduced or stopped.
So, is it something to be worried about?
Well, it seems to be reassuringly rare, and statistics show that each year, only 1 to 2 per 100,000 people in the U.S. are infected with histoplasmosis.
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Symptoms to keep an eye out for include fever, muscle aches, and chest pain.
As well as bat poop, birds and their droppings can also contain the fungus.
Experts also warn that bat poop is being promoted more commonly as a fertilizer following the legalisation of cannabis in more regions.
They have stressed the importance of awareness.
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“Commercial biofertilizers containing bat guano should be tested for [the fungus] before reaching the market", the researchers added. 'If testing is not feasible, risk mitigation strategies should be implemented.”
Jen Thomas