Posted on 10/19/2014 7:07:16 AM PDT by dennisw
Ebola transmission and source Of all animals, bats and rats are generally considered to carry around numerous pathogens that can infect humans. Rats tend to live close to humans and are still associated with the bubonic plague that swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing almost 25 million people. But why do bats have such a bad reputation?
Well this prejudice against bats is actually not very surprising. Bats can carry a number of pathogens (rabies, Hendra, Marburg, Nipah and indeed also Ebola). These are all viruses that can cause serious disease in humans. Particularly the Ebola virus can be deadly, killing up to 90% of all infected humans. Who is to blame?
Contrary to rats, bats do not like to live near humans. But humans are, especially in the tropics, constantly expanding into bat habitat. This – of course – increases the risks of humans coming into contact with these animals. This is not the bats fault, but it does explain the rise of incidences of humans infected with pathogens via bats. Why bats?
Whether a bat lives in a cave or in a tree, it will always live there with other bats, lots of other bats. Sleeping close together to keep their bodies warm, and in the process creating the perfect conditions for pathogens to spread between animals.
On top of that, bats have a very sophisticated immune system to keep them healthy. Not only does this immune system protect them from dying from many pathogens, it also protects against cancer/DNA damage. Unlike birds, bats have thin but relatively heavy bones, hence the amount of energy required to fly is huge. And where energy is used, free radicals are produced. To prevent this reactive waste from damaging DNA, bats have evolved a very sophisticated and effective immune system. Apart from the immune system, there is another trick; when bats fly their body temperature rises to about 40C. Most viruses and bacteria are eliminated at these temperatures. In fact raising body temperature (fever) is an important part of the human body to overcome pathogens. But unfortunately there are bacteria and viruses that can cope, or learn to cope, with these high temperatures. These tolerant pathogens are then very difficult for the human body to combat. Are all bats bad?
As long as you don;t run around poking bats with sticks you are very unlikely to ever get bit by one in the first place. Bats are too afraid of humans to come close and too busy doing important work such as catching mosquitos and pollinating fruit trees. And then again, most bats do not carry zoonotic disease.
Worth watching is this MinuteEarth animated video about bats and disease:
Fruit bat caves are piled high with their feces. A perfect Ebola breeding ground and place for it to mutate into worse forms of Ebola
Black plague
Bats seriously creep me out. I do recognize their role in keeping the insect population in check, but they carry so many diseases.
Becuase they don’t roll up so well...
Christian missionaries in those parts of the world would do well to recognize that there was a communal benefit to the ancient Jews being instructed to refrain from eating certain categories of meats as well as other hygienic instructions.
Really interesting. Thanks for posting.
As one who had been bitten by a rabid bat I do not seek their company.
Bat meat is sold in open air markets in Africa.
The problem is not one of fruit bats living too close to humans, but rather humans eating fruit bats and most anything else in what they call “bushmeat”
From what I have been told bushmeat is either only partially cooked or uncooked and then allowed to spoil before consuming, for the “flavor”. (Western pipeline workers tell stories about the awful smell of the native laborers gleefully lunching on bushmeat)
West Africa is loaded with humans that act primitive and seem to have little concern with food safety. Add on the warm humid climate and its like they are living in a lab experiment, that sometimes goes bad.
Would it be any better if bat meat were sold in climate-controlled Publix stores?
Bats are not meant for food.
I certainly don’t plan to eat one, even if they turn up vacuum-packed in the freezer case at my local Food Lion.
Contrary to rats, bats do not like to live near humans.
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Good posting.
However, in Austin TX there is a bridge or overpass in town where millions of bats fly out everyday near Sundown and lots of residents and travelers are there to watch and film. This location is not in the boonies, but within the city.
ROFL...me either.
It’s one of those, “How hungry would I have to be ...” things, and I’m very glad I’ve never been that hungry.
I will admit to being “prejudiced” against bats. Ever since I was a little girl and I heard about a woman who had a bat fly into her hair and get tangled up there. I hate bats and just after sundown I see them swooping around in my back yard. ICK! Bat hater here, even more than before!
Well....I have faith that God has something better for me to eat than bats...and the Scripture says “I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread.” I’ll be quoting that if comes down to bats for food...lol
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