Solving the mystery of the dying bats

[amaddox]

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100126_Solving_the_mystery_of_the_dying_bats.html?viewAll=y

This one's from the Philadelphia Inquirer. It actually never says anything about human transmission of WNS.

[BrianC]

"Humans have done a pretty good job of killing a lot of animals, like the buffalo," he said, "but nothing like this has ever been recorded. It's pretty bleak. That's the only way to say it."

This looks like and smells like, must be like!

[amaddox]

I took that as refering to "Some suggest links to pesticides or cascading effects of an altered environment." Maybe I misunderstood.

[ohiocaver]

Yes, it is possible humans are a vector for WNS. But so far -- after 3-4 years -- NOT ONE CASE has been linked to humans either as a cause or as a carrier.
Let's see: Malaria must be transported by humans, right? Everywhere people go in the tropics they spread the disease. Oops, that's mosquitoes.
Well, black lung disease ... humans all up and down the Appalachians are giving it to one another. Oops, that's environmental or work related.
Well, then, we know all the old-line diseases like bubonic plague are caused by humans, right? Oops, that was rats and fleas (a double vector!).
How about cancer? Women sitting close to one another at tea parties must spread breast cancer, right? Oops, that's highly genetic.
Bats in the USA with WNS die in bulk. Bats in Europe with WNS, it appears, do not die at all. I suppose, by that same logic, we can conclude that there is no caving in Europe?
If the only tool you choose to take out of your toolbox is a hammer, you'll see every problem as a nail.
If the only possibility these researchers entertain is human causality, they're losing years of valuable research time and a chance to save the remaining bats.
Me? I'd prefer to try a whole bunch of different tools and possibilities -- especially when, after three years, nobody has seen one iota of scientific evidence that humans are involved at all.

[MUD]

Yes, it is possible humans are a vector for WNS. But so far -- after 3-4 years -- NOT ONE CASE has been linked to humans either as a cause or as a carrier.
Let's see: Malaria must be transported by humans, right? Everywhere people go in the tropics they spread the disease. Oops, that's mosquitoes.
Well, black lung disease ... humans all up and down the Appalachians are giving it to one another. Oops, that's environmental or work related.
Well, then, we know all the old-line diseases like bubonic plague are caused by humans, right? Oops, that was rats and fleas (a double vector!).
How about cancer? Women sitting close to one another at tea parties must spread breast cancer, right? Oops, that's highly genetic.
Bats in the USA with WNS die in bulk. Bats in Europe with WNS, it appears, do not die at all. I suppose, by that same logic, we can conclude that there is no caving in Europe?
If the only tool you choose to take out of your toolbox is a hammer, you'll see every problem as a nail.
If the only possibility these researchers entertain is human causality, they're losing years of valuable research time and a chance to save the remaining bats.
Me? I'd prefer to try a whole bunch of different tools and possibilities -- especially when, after three years, nobody has seen one iota of scientific evidence that humans are involved at all.

My sentiments exactly! GREAT post Curt!

[BrianC]

after three years, nobody has seen one iota of scientific evidence that humans are involved at all.

It has now been 4 years but who's counting? You got my vote Curt! Thanks for making me feel all jingly inside!