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. 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. “I've been collecting bat guano for 40 years already, and never got sick,” Jaew said.

Source: The Hindu March 16, 2020 06:02 UTC