Bat decline linked to rise in infant mortality, warns study

In recent years, an epidemic known as White-nose Syndrome has significantly reduced the number of bats in the USA. This may have serious consequences for us as well. A study published in the prestigious journal Science suggests that the decline in the bat population may be linked to the deaths of about 1,300 infants in the USA.

White-nose Syndrome, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which arrived in America from Europe, is deadly for bats, especially during hibernation. Its characteristic feature is the white fungus on the snouts of infected animals. Since 2006, the fungus has killed millions of bats in North America.

This can have serious consequences, not only for the bat population but also for humans. Bats play a crucial role in the ecosystem as insect-eating mammals. In one night, they can eat thousands of insects, consuming an amount equal to up to 40% of their body weight. Their delicacies include mosquitoes, among others.

In areas where the bat population has decreased, farmers have started using an average of 31% more pesticides. Prof. Eyal Frank from the University of Chicago, the study's author, linked this fact to an increase in infant mortality by nearly 8%. Similarly, with White-nose Syndrome, scientists concluded that it affects local ecosystems and directly impacts human health.

"I analysed the data for an additional year and the observation persisted, which I considered convincing evidence" – stated Frank, pointing to the correlation between the absence of bats and the negative impact on infant health. Besides pesticides, the study accounted for other factors that could affect mortality, such as unemployment, the opioid epidemic, weather, and differences between mothers, but none of these explained the observed changes.

Research on White-nose Syndrome and its impact on the ecosystem and human health shows how the fates of humans and animals are interconnected. Other studies have also proven that changes in wild animal populations directly impact humans – for instance, the decline in the number of vultures in India contributed to the deaths of half a million people. This was due to the spread of rabies.

The authors of the studies emphasise the importance of monitoring White-nose Syndrome and its impact on the ecosystem. They argue that it is significant not only for the protection of bat species but also for our own safety.