Bat guano collectors in Thailand undeterred by possible link to coronavirus

By Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

Bat guano collectors fill bags outside of a bat cave at Wat Khao Chong Phran in Ratchaburi, Thailand March 14, 2020. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

RATCHABURI, Thailand (Reuters) - Thai villagers scouring a dark cave for bat guano, sought after by farmers as a nutrient-rich crop fertiliser, are undaunted by scientists' suggestion that it could be behind a coronavirus that has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide.

 

The source of the virus remains a matter of debate after it emerged in China late last year, but some scientists believe it could have originated in bats before passing to humans, perhaps being transferred through another animal.

 

But that link is not a concern for Jaew Yaemjam, a collector of bat droppings in Thailand's western province of Ratchaburi, even though the southeast Asian nation has recorded 114 virus infections and one death.

 

"No, I'm not worried because the virus didn't originate from here," said Jaew, 65, who is one of several villagers making the nightly trek into a smelly cave near a Buddhist temple, Wat Khao Chong Phran, to fill their sacks with the droppings.

 

They start work after dark, when millions of chittering bats stream out of the cave to hunt for food. Some of those who have been collecting for decades, earning less than $1 for each bucketload, say they have never had any health issues.

 

"Bat guano could be carrying various diseases," said Pikul Temket, a provincial health official. "However, we've been clearing it out every week, so our cave is considered to be quite clean."

 

Guano collection began generations ago, when the abbot then in charge of the temple asked villagers to help clean the cave.

 

At $6 (4.88 pounds) a bucket, the guano, rich in chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, brings in the bulk of the temple's earnings from farmers keen to boost crops and improve the taste of fruit.

 

In the past, it also went into gunpowder and explosives.

 

"I've been collecting bat guano for 40 years already, and never got sick," Jaew said. "I just use a piece of cloth to cover my face, nothing much, really."

 

(Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-16

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3 minutes ago, webfact said:

"I've been collecting bat guano for 40 years already, and never got sick," Jaew said. "I just use a piece of cloth to cover my face, nothing much, really."

scientific  proof  if  ever it was needed....this is why post Corona NOTHING  will change, those wet markets  will all still be doing their filthy business and pattaya beach will still be overun with rats

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

"I've been collecting bat guano for 40 years already, and never got sick," Jaew said. "I just use a piece of cloth to cover my face, nothing much, really."

Now there is patient-zero.

I'll bet something in his body makes for a good vaccin.

Holy bat<deleted> batman 

brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "bat sh!t crazy"!

collector$$$$ will keep collecting

- taking risks on blase is as blase does... 

  end up catch something... oh well... <deleted> happens

Thankfully we are fairly immune to bull guano otherwise we'd all be in deep guano in this country!

3 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "bat sh!t crazy"!

My God ! Ignorance is bliss.

But also very deadly

This smells like a new low for this forum.  What's next?  A thread on the health benefits from wallowing in pig poop?

Should put bat soup of the menu !

I'm on of those who buy this guano for my garden. ????

They might be right, it's specific caves where viruses fester: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/cave-full-of-bats-in-china-identified-as-source-of-virus-almost-identical-to-the-one-killing-hundreds-today

 

Of course it could jump from a human to bats, mutate and jump back. Then the cave would be yet another source of SARS-CoV-3,4,5,6,7.. better not mess with the bats at all.

2 hours ago, rhyddid said:

Main stream media need to push for the bat version, yeah right it was a bat muted into  a human being, then spread the covid19 around Whuan, Iran and Europe and then mute back to bat and make guano, very interesting 2020 tale, i will tell my child.

 

Don't tell them there was a lab next door that was working on the virus! they would think you gullible for believing the "Bat" story, entertaining though it is ???? 

Interesting how the price changes from $1 to $6 a bucket in a few paragraphs!

8 hours ago, DrTuner said:

They might be right, it's specific caves where viruses fester: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/cave-full-of-bats-in-china-identified-as-source-of-virus-almost-identical-to-the-one-killing-hundreds-today

 

Of course it could jump from a human to bats, mutate and jump back. Then the cave would be yet another source of SARS-CoV-3,4,5,6,7.. better not mess with the bats at all.

I think the issue is more about the contact with the bat. The guano itself is very old and sterile. 

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

Interesting how the price changes from $1 to $6 a bucket in a few paragraphs!

Maybe it should be .. the worker gets 1$ ... its sells for 6$ ...  Good profit margin ...

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Bat guano collectors in Thailand undeterred by possible link to coronavirus

As you can see they've protected themselves by following stringent hygiene procedures!

And Anutin calls foreigners the "great un-washed" 

17 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

Now there is patient-zero.

I'll bet something in his body makes for a good vaccin.

...the vacuum between his left ear and right ear.