Additional Money Directed to Fatal Bat Disease

Congress is directing an additional four million dollars to researching a disease that is killing bats all over the southeast, including many in Kentucky.White-nose Syndrome is a fungus that has infected and killed more than a million bats since it was discovered five years ago. Nina Fascione is the executive director of Bat Conservation International. She says extra funds for fighting the mysterious disease will definitely be useful.“The last congressional appropriation for White-nose Syndrome was for $1.9 million in FY 2010,” she said. “So the amount increase in this particularly tough budget year...we are very happy that that’s received some important funding.”Fascione says there’s a lot that's still unknown about White-nose Syndrome, including how and when the disease is transmitted. The fungus was found in Kentucky last year. In total, it has infected bats in 18 other states and five Canadian provinces.