Two US men use bat poop to cultivate cannabis, succumb to death

In a shocking incident, two men from Rochester, New York, died after inhaling spores from bat faeces, known as guano. They were planning to use it as a fertiliser for cannabis cultivation.

This incident was reported in a study published earlier this month in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases journal.

In the journal, the condition which caused the death of two men is a rare lung infection identified as histoplasmosis. The infection is said to be fatal despite medical intervention.

The bat guano was first purchased by the 59-year-old man, wanting to use it as a natural fertiliser. The second man (69-year-old) apparently collected the bat guano from an attic in his home which was bat infested.

The men developed symptoms like high fever, chronic cough and lost weight significantly, followed by blood poisoning, eventually resulting in respiratory failure.

These men unknowingly exposed themselves to Histoplasma capsulatum, which is a harmful fungus found in bat and bird dropping commonly. Even after rigorous medical intervention and treatments, they unfortunately succumbed to death.

The report further added that the prevalence of histoplasmosis is widespread across the United States, as two cases per 100,000 people are reported annually.

Initially, the fungal infection was confined to the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, however, it now has reached across central and eastern parts of the country.

Being a rich source of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic compounds, bat guano is believed to be beneficial for cannabis plants, thus gaining popularity among cannabis growers.

Further highlighting the risks associated with bat guano and with the intention of creating awareness, the report added, “Exposure to bat guano among cannabis growers appears to be a recent trend that can lead to histoplasmosis cases and outbreaks. It is crucial to raise awareness among physicians and patients to reinforce personal preventive measures and establish timely diagnosis. Commercial biofertilizers containing bat guano should be tested for H capsulatum before reaching the market. If testing is not feasible, risk mitigation strategies should be implemented.”