Doctors have reported two rare and fatal cases of histoplasmosis, a fungal disease linked to bat guano used as fertilizer for locally grown cannabis.
Homegrown weed lovers beware: there are some fertilizers that you should probably avoid. Doctors are warning people to steer clear of bat guano, a.k.a bat poop, after two cannabis growers contracted a fatal fungal infection linked to its use.earlier this month. Both cases involved local men who developed a severe bout of histoplasmosis, likely contracted from bat guano they had used or intended to use as fertilizer for their cannabis crops.
The first victim, a 59-year-old man, had purchased bat guano online and used it to fertilize his cannabis. The second victim, a 64-year-old man, had recently discovered a “heavy bat infestation” in his attic, and he was hoping to use the bat guano as a fertilizer for his crops. Unfortunately, by the time the men had seen the doctors, their cases had gotten quite severe, causing other problems like secondary infections and sepsis.
“Exposure to bat guano among cannabis growers appears to be a recent trend that can lead to histoplasmosis cases and outbreaks,” the researchers wrote in their paper,in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). But the researchers are worried that cannabis growers are likely in the dark about the potential dangers posed by bat guano. They note that guano is commonlyas a “natural superfood” for growing cannabis because of its richness in nitrogen and other compounds.
“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‘ First Trailer Introduces a New Martial Arts HeroForget MacBooks, Dell’s Newest Inspiron Laptop Is at Its Lowest Price Since Launch for the Holidays12/17/2024, 10:00 am
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bat poop used to grow cannabis kills 2 in New York in unusual casesEmily is a health news writer based in London, United Kingdom. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Durham University and a master's degree in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience from Oxford University. She has worked in science communication, medical writing and as a local news reporter while undertaking journalism training.
Read more »
Scientists hope fossilized poop and vomit will reveal how dinosaurs came to dominate EarthThe new study reconstructs who was eating whom 200 million years ago.
Read more »
Texas farmers say fertilizer made from sewage poisoned landThe fertilizer was promoted as an environmental win-win for years. An untold number of farmers and ranchers across Texas have spread it on their land.
Read more »
200-million-year-old dinosaur poop and vomit reveal a lost Jurassic worldLaura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life. Laura is a proud former resident of the New Jersey shore, a competitive swimmer, and a fierce defender of the Oxford comma.
Read more »
Poop of the Ocean’s Tiniest Organisms Could Combat Climate ChangeLeveraging the food of tiny phytoplankton could trap carbon and sequester it to the ocean’s bottom.
Read more »
The Rise of The Dinosaurs Can Be Tracked in Their Fossilized PoopThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »