Our teens want to have a barn dance and there is lots of bat guano in th barn. Is this something we should be concerned with?

I’m not too sure, but by the sounds of this, I don’t think so

Welcome to Fluther.

I don’t understand @nofurbelowsbatgirl‘s response. It seems like the answer (from the link she provided) is “yes, you should be concerned”.

The other thing to be concerned about, aside from the guano itself and the mold that can grow in it, is hanta virus.

I don’t think that I would call off the dance, but I think I would want the place to be a bit cleaner than it might be if the bat guano is in plain sight.

@CWOTUS Hantavirus is not a legitimate concern. The results that your link leads to talk about the possibility that African or Asian bat species might be able to carry the virus. I would be surprised if bats are even being considered as a possible vector for hantavirus in North America.

If you’re worried about histoplasmosis, you might want to check out this CDC page to see if you are in a higher risk area.

Please look at @glacial‘s link. I have a personal experience with histoplasmosis. After one chest xray, one CT scan, one PET scan and two needle lung biopsies I was diagnosed with histoplasmosis this past July. I went to the doctor for shortness of breath the beginning of June and she ordered the first xray. I spent several weeks during this process worrying that I had lung cancer. My PET scan report showed I had a high probability of malignancy and it had metastasized. It was a very scary time for our family, but I am doing fine now. I just had a follow up xray last week and I will need another Ct scan in January.

I live on a farm and I believe I was exposed to the histoplasma when I was cleaning our garage. We also have many bats and birds in this garage. Most people who get histoplasmosis don’t show any signs and recover from it without any problems. If you or anyone who will be cleaning the barn are vulnerable (young, old or weakened immune system) I would suggest taking precautions and wear a mask when cleaning.

I’d say yes, it is cause for concern.

http://allstateanimalcontrol.com/animals/bats/bat_droppings.php

I’m not sure if exposure for only a few hours is dangerous, but I wouldn’t take the change. I’d have it cleaned out first.

Am I the only one that can’t hear the word “guano” without thinking of Jim Carey? “Guano bowls…collect the whole set!” :)

There are some dangers associated with guano, mainly histo, but after several years of caving in the stuff I would not be concerned about having it in a barn during a barn dance.
However you might want to check out this earlier post.