White-nose Syndrome

Special note for delegates booked onto the 15th International Bat Research Conference in Prague:

Geomyces destructans, the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome (WNS) has been identified in a number of eastern and western European countries.  Although there is no confirmed evidence of WNS itself on the continent, we do ask bat workers travelling to Prague for the Conference on 23-27 August to take a precautionary approach, and avoid hibernation site visits where possible. However, if you are planning to go to an underground site in Europe, we recommend that you decontaminate your equipment and clothes before re-entering the UK. Suitable products are suggested below. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Laura Dunne ldunne@bats.org.uk, or Helen Miller hmiller@bats.org.uk.  

Decontamination product suggestions:

  • For clothes, boots and non electrical equipment: Ark-Klens'ready to use' disinfectant, £5.58 decanted into a trigger spray container, such as the Homebase value sprayer, £0.99.
  • For hands: Hibiscrub skin cleanser, available from Boots for £7.99

(Prices correct in August 2010)


White-nose syndrome (WNS) has been associated with the deaths of over 1 million bats in nine states across in NE United States. In some hibernation sites, numbers have declined by 80-100% since 2006 when the condition was first identified. All six resident bat species have been affected.  

The fungus asociated with WNS, Geomyces destructans, has also been identifed on a number of bats in Europe, including France, Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary.   However, unlike in the US, these findings have not been linked with mass mortalities.  There have been no cases of WNS or G. destructans in the UK. 

 WNS and bat hibernation area, June 2010 (BCI)

Little brown bats with white-nose syndrome in New York (N Heaslip, NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation)

 

 

 

 

 

  

In the UK

Download our UK guidelines for bat workers and cavers.

With the discovery of the fungus in Europe and the potential for the US strain to arrive here, the issue of WNS is high on BCT's agenda. With no confirmed cases of G. destructansat present, our main priorities in the UK are to raise awareness of WNS amongst bat workers and other cave users and ensure mechanisms are in place to identify and respond to suspect and positive cases quickly. 

BCT has also been working with other organisations and researchers from the US and Europe to draft a Eurobats resolution. This resolution gives the key areas in which action is needed and will urge countries across Europe to comply.  In particular the draft resolution recognises that action is needed:

  1. To prevent the North American strain from reaching European bat hibernacula,
  2. To monitor European hibernacula for the presence of fungi growing on bats,
  3. To refer any such fungi for appropriate mycological investigation,
  4. If bat deaths occur, to limit the spread of the fungus by human agency.

The draft resolution 6.7 Guidelines for the Prevention, Detection and Control of lethal fungal Infections in Bats can be viewed on the Eurobats website.

Other useful references