Global News - May 2008

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US scientists race to understand mysterious bat-killing condition

Fri 09 May 2008 18:00 UK — North America,Other

Environmental scientists in the US are continuing to investigate the cause of a mysterious illness that has killed thousands of bats since March.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued a Wildlife Health Bulletin warning that wildlife and conservation officials needed to watch out for a condition that has become known as white-nosed syndrome.

At more than 25 caves and mines in the north-east of the US, bats have started dying from the mysterious condition.

Wildlife disease specialist Dr Kimberli Miller said: "Anyone finding sick or dead bats should avoid handling them and should contact their state wildlife conservation agency or the nearest US Fish and Wildlife Service field office to report their observation."

So far, more than 100 bat carcasses from New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have been sent to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center for analysis.

Researchers are yet to fully understand the disease. They said that many of the affected bats have been emaciated and in poor general health. Most also showed signs of microscopic fungi on their bodies.

It is still unknown if environmental factors, secondary microbial pathogens or toxicants caused the deaths.

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