Deadly bat droppings: two deaths linked to cannabis cultivation in New York

Two New York men succumbed to a rare fungal lung infection they contracted from bat droppings — specifically, droppings they used or planned to use as fertilizer to grow crops cannabis.

These two men, originally from Rochester, shared a passion for “Mary Jane” and grew their own cannabis plants for personal use. They both developed a condition called histoplasmosis after inhaling spores of a harmful fungus known as Histoplasma capsulatum present in bat droppings, also called guano.

The first man, aged 59, had purchased guano online to use as fertilizer for his cannabis plants. The other man, aged 64, intended to fertilize his plants with guano he found in his attic after a “heavy” bat infestation.

The men developed a range of symptoms linked to their infection, including feverchronic cough, significant weight loss, sepsis and respiratory failure. Despite hospitalization and antifungal treatment, both men died from their illness, according to a report published Dec. 4 in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

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Doctors who treated them said the deaths should serve as a warning about the potential dangers of using bat guano as a fertilizer for any plant, especially for cannabis growers.

“With the recent legalization and expectation of an increase in domestic cannabis cultivation, coupled with the promotion of bat guano for this purpose, it is crucial to inform the public about the potential risks of its use as a fertilizer,” the report’s authors wrote. They also noted that they found numerous articles calling bat guano a “natural superfood” for cannabis plants due to its high concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus.

These recent fatal cases also “highlight the need for protective measures, such as wearing masks when handling them,” the authors added.

Histoplasmosis is a type of pneumonia caused by inhalation of spores of H. capsulatuma fungus found in the soil and bird and bat droppings. In the lungs, spores of H. capsulatum transform into mature yeast which can spread to other areas of the body via and high. However, this disease does not spread between people or between people and their pets.

Each year, approximately 1 to 2 people in 100,000 in the United States are infected with histoplasmosis. Infections mainly occur in Mississippi and Ohio river valleysalthough cases have been reported in 14 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Only about 1% people exposed to H. capsulatum develop symptoms. When these symptoms appear, they usually appear between three to 17 days after exposure, and include fever, chills, muscle aches, and chest pain.

People with a history of lung diseases and those whose immune system is weakened are more likely to develop severe forms of histoplasmosis, which can last months or moreand can be fatal. Between 5% and 7% of patients hospitalized for histoplasmosis die because of their infection.

The Rochester men had other pre-existing conditions when they contracted histoplasmosis, which may have made their infections worse. The first, for example, suffered fromemphysemaa condition where the alveoli in the lungs are damaged, restricting breathing. Additionally, both patients had a history of tobacco use, in addition to smoking marijuana.

The authors of the new case report emphasize that commercial fertilizers containing bat guano should be tested for H. capsulatum before being placed on the market. If this is not possible, these products should be labeled with warning signs and provide instructions on their safe use.

To minimize the risk of infection, the CDC also recommends avoiding activities that increase the chances of exposure to H. capsulatumlike cleaning chicken coops or exploring caves. Large quantities of bird and bat droppings, which may be found in an infested attic, should be removed by specialized companies, according to the agency.

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