Are bat feces dangerous to touch or breathe?

There has been an increase of bat-related deaths all around the world in recent years, and for this reason , it is important not to touch bat feces , blood or saliva and it is always recommended that you must wear gloves when trying to exclude a bat from your home. While bat rabies can be avoided easily, it is quite difficult to avoid a disease such as Histoplasmosis- a disease caused by the inhalation of spores of bats and this is widely carried in the air and through physical touch. Histoplasmosis is not contagious, however the disease can affect both humans and animals and many people are not aware of their risks to it.



If you have a single bat or a couple of bats in your house, your risk of contracting Histoplasmosis or rabies may be low compared to when you have a colony of bats inside your attic. The kind of profession you do can also increase your chances of contracting Histoplasmosis or rabies from bat feces , blood or saliva; Construction workers, chimney cleaners, and HVAC installers, and roof repairers are at higher risks of contracting bat diseases.

Bats themselves are not the original carriers of Histoplasmosis, however they get infected with the disease and their feces carry the fungus . The fungus of the disease can also grow on any soil the droppings fall unto, and they continue to grow until someone cleans the barn or attic or anywhere the spores are growing.

Bat feces is dangerous to touch or breathe especially when you disturb the dirt or feces of the bat, the spores become air borne immediately and can be inhaled and you may become infected with Histoplasmosis immediately. This disease will normally affects the lungs first, and most sufferers of the disease will suffer no or mild symptoms in the first few days of coming in contact or breathing spores from the bat feces. Most of the symptoms of Histoplasmosis are related to Flu ,and these include; dry cough, chest pains, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, fever, headache and sometimes, impaired vision.

You may be exposed to diseases spread by bats and may not know it , thus a proper diagnosis is recommended. In some cases, Histoplasmosis symptoms may seem like Tuberculosis and the disease may become fatal if not treated.

In order to avoid getting infections from touching or breathing substances from feces of bats, you should be careful when cleaning your attic. Experts suggest that you first spray a mist of water on the bat infested area, as such can help moisten the feces and dusts. You should also wear a disposable clothing with a facial mask for additional protection when removing the feces.

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