Miracles Needed! White Nose Syndrome hurting bats in the U.S.

In the past few years, a strange disease has been devastating bats across the Northeastern United States. Dubbed ‘White Nose Syndrome’ for the characteristic finding of a thin white fungus growing on the faces and wing membranes of the bats, this illness causes a high mortality.

Experts are worried, since the disease seems to be spreading and the death rates are so high. In some areas, more than 95% of bats have died. Some endangered bat species, such as the Indiana bat, could get pushed close to extinction if the disease cannot be stopped. No one knows for sure what is causing the disease – if it’s the white fungus or some other germ weakening the bats and allowing the fungus to grow.

Bats are important in the environment. Many bat species eat insects– such as moths and beetles which can damage crops. If large proportions of bats die off, there could be a greater reliance on harmful chemicals and pesticides to protect those crops.

Bats live in a different ‘world’ which might seem strange and frightening to some. Most bat species however are highly social – living in colonies for years. One bat researcher told me some bats can live up to 25 years! Bats make up 20% of all known mammal species, so there’s more of them than you might think. Mother bats usually just have one baby a year, and feed them milk to drink.

Bats don’t attack people or get tangled in someone’s hair. A healthy bat will try to avoid contact with humans if at all possible. A sick bat may have trouble flying and could be found on the ground. Like all wildlife, a bat should be respected and never handled without the proper equipment including durable gloves. A very small percentage of bats (usually 1% or less) might carry rabies. A scratch or a bite from a bat is a reason to see a doctor who would know about bat diseases – such as an Infectious Diseases specialist. The CDC rabies website gives some general advice on ‘What to do’ if a bat is found in your home.

So far experts don’t know exactly what is causing WNS or how to stop it. We’re hoping for some miracles soon to help these small but wonderful creatures.

The story of Rose, AIDS survivor

I just had lunch the other day with ‘Rose’, one of my AIDS patients.  It was the greatest thing, to see her – just like a ‘normal’ person. 

Who would believe that just last year, Rose nearly died from a terrible opportunistic infection called ‘Cryptococcus’. 

When Rose came into the hospital, she was thin, wasted and very weak.  She had been having fevers for sometime.  AIDS had been ravaging her immune system and without those defenses, she was extremely susceptible to infection.  Certain types of infections tend to occur in advanced AIDS, and she was now fighting a battle with Cryptococcus neoformans, a nasty fungus.  By the time she came in, this fungus was ‘everywhere’ – it was growing out of her blood. 

We put her on the most powerful medicine we could – amphotericin, or ‘ampho-terrible’.  It was a difficult medicine to take, especially for someone so sick.  Her blood levels dropped to less than half of what they should have been, her electrolytes were profoundly deranged , she felt weak and feverish.  There weren’t any options though – we had no choice but to try and treat her, or face certain death.