Thailand: People in Ratchaburi province still scour the cave for bats and sell them to farmers, despite warnings that this is a source of nCoV.

The origin of nCoV remains controversial after the outbreak of Covid-19 in China late last year, but some scientists believe the virus could have originated from bats before being transmitted to humans through a species. other animals.

However, this warning does not cause concern for Jaew Yaemjam, a bat-man collector in Ratchaburi province, western Thailand, although the country has recorded 114 cases of nCoV, including one death.

"I am not worried because the virus does not originate from here," said Jaew, 65.

Every night, Mr. Jaew and many villagers carry sacks into a stinking cave near Wat Khao Chong Phran to collect bat dung. They started work when millions of bats flew out of the cave to find food. Some people have been doing this for decades and say they have never had any health problems.

"Bat droppings can cause many different diseases," says Pikul Temket, a health officer in Ratchaburi Province. "However, we do a weekly cleaning so it is considered quite clean."

The profession of collecting bat dung has existed for many generations, when the abbot of Wat Khao Chong Phran suggested that people clean the cave. At $ 6 a pail, this rich, nitrogen and phosphate-rich manure brings a big revenue to the temple when sold to farmers to fertilize the trees, helping to stimulate growth and improve the taste of the fruits.

In the past, it was also used to make gunpowder and explosives.

"I've been collecting bat manure for 40 years and have never been sick," Jaew said. "I just used a cloth to cover my face, really nothing much."