Health authorities in New York report that two men succumbed to infectious pneumonia after utilizing bat excrement as a fertilizer for cultivating marijuana.
The men, aged 64 and 59, employed bat droppings, known as guano, to nurture cannabis plants.
They inhaled marijuana tainted with a fungus present in the guano, leading to fatal lung infections.
One individual purchased the guano online, while the other sourced it from a bat colony residing in his attic.
The two men were strangers to each other and were discovered deceased in different sites throughout Rochester, NY.
Health authorities have issued a caution against purchasing guano online for the purpose of fertilizing weed.
Medical professionals noted that the use of guano for home-grown cannabis appears to be a “new trend.” They recommend steering clear of this fertilizer, unless it has been independently examined for fungi and other pathogens.
Online resources describe guano as a “natural superfood” for growing cannabis, yet it may harbor harmful bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can lead to severe illness.
Pathologists analyzed the bat excrement and identified a fungus named Histoplasma capsulatum, which is common in the eastern United States.
This fungus can be found in bat and bird droppings and naturally occurs in the soil.
Most individuals contract the illness by inhaling the spores of the fungus through the nasal passages or mouth.
Once the spores are inhaled into the lungs, symptoms may emerge within three to 17 days. The illness is not contagious and does not transmit between individuals.