White Nose syndrome detected for first time in Iowa, USA
A national study to determine the extent of White Nose syndrome in the United States has found one positive Big Brown Bat in the Maquoketa caves in Iowa. The live bats were being swabbed to obtain samples for DNA analysis which tests for the presence of Geomyces Destructans, the fungus that causes White Nose syndrome. This is the first time the fungus has been detected in this state. The US Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says that this is a very low level and they are not certain at this time if it will be the beginning of an outbreak or not. Measures are now being taken to prevent the spread of the fungus from the infected cave to others.
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