Three cases of bat disease discovered in Missouri JEFFERSON
CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
recently received confirmation that a deadly disease in bats
called “White-Nose Syndrome” (WNS) has been found in three bats
from two caves in Lincoln County. The name describes a white
fungus, Geomyces destructans, typically found on the faces and
wings of infected bats. WNS spreads mainly through bat-to-bat
contact and has not been found to infect humans or other
animals. WNS was confirmed in a little brown bat from one public
cave and in two tri-colored bats from a second public cave north
of St. Louis by the U. S. Geological Survey National Wildlife
Health Center in Madison, Wis. The specific names and locations
of the caves are not being disclosed to help prevent human
disturbance of remaining bats in the caves. The two caves are
closed to public access. “Disturbing bats in caves while they
roost or hibernate can increase their stress and further weaken
their health,” said MDC Bat Biologi