Bat Flu...

[Joel Corrigan]

Friend of mine in the US sent me these links relating to White Nose Syndrome.  First I've heard about it but it generally seems to be that the Americans start something and the Brits copy them soon after.....

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1273
http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/41621.html

 

[cap n chris]

Sounds serious (although I think bats can't quite make the journey across the Atlantic!); but I do wonder what control(s), if any, can be used. After all, surely the batworkers are the ones most likely to check on the bats and hence most likely to spread the disease from one cave to another, assuming it can be spread by humans. Also, in a cave environment, white fungus is common-as-mud and the soft mucous membranes of bats' noses are bound to become mouldy shortly after death. An interesting study would be to see whether recently-dead bats exhibit such a characteristic, despite the absence of any illness being a factor in the death.

 

[Hughie]

....but I do wonder what control(s), if any, can be used.

As with bird flue, foot and mouth, tb etc.  Cull. Plain and simple.

To be really sure, our governments policy of cull on suspicion should be deployed. 

 

[Les W]

Hughie, should we begin a preemptive cull of all bats in the UK before it gets here from the US?

 

[Hughie]

Hughie, should we begin a preemptive cull of all bats in the UK before it gets here from the US?

Ought to. Best be on the safe side. 

 

[Les W]

We should go and get them now then, while they're all asleep. 

 

[darkplaces]

To be really sure, our governments policy of cull on suspicion should be deployed. 

Ahhh more anti-terrorism laws...