2 Deaths in New York Linked to Bat Feces Used as Cannabis Fertilizer

Two men died after they contracted a rare fungal infection from exposure to bat feces, also known as guano, that they were using to grow cannabis plants, according to a report published in a medical journal.

The men, who lived in Rochester, N.Y., were not named in the article, published this month in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases. The researchers wrote that the men had been hospitalized and diagnosed with histoplasmosis, a form of pneumonia that is caused by breathing in spores of the fungus histoplasma capsulatum, which is often found in bat guano. Their cases were unrelated, the researchers said.

The spores they inhaled were in fecal matter they had used or planned to use to fertilize homegrown cannabis plants, according to the report.

“Exposure to bat guano among cannabis growers appears to be a recent trend that can lead to histoplasmosis cases and outbreaks,” the researchers wrote. “It is crucial to raise awareness among physicians and patients to reinforce personal preventive measures and establish timely diagnosis.”

One of the men, who was 64 years old and smoked cannabis and tobacco, reported having a severe bat infestation in his attic that left behind a thick layer of guano, which he inspected several times and planned to use as cannabis fertilizer, the researchers wrote.

He went on to develop an array of symptoms over several months, including a sodium imbalance and chronic cough. He lost 35 pounds, according to the report, which said he also had severe peripheral arterial disease.