United States: Everything went wrong on their Costa Rica family vacation when 12 out of 13 people were diagnosed with a potentially deadly fungus.
The family, based in Texas, Washington, and Georgia, had been visiting the bats in the Venado Caves to the north of the country, crawling through small passages full of bats.
Mysterious Symptoms Erupted
Following my return to the US, fever, headache, muscle pain, night sweats, breathing problems, and indigestion started to affect 12 family members.
Five participants visited doctors, and one was hospitalized after doctors recognized changes on scans that looked like cancer in the lungs.
Family vacation takes hellish turn as relatives come down with cancer-like disease https://t.co/cMpzYW8P2X
— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) May 22, 2025
Shocking diagnosis:
After tests, it was revealed that the family suffered from histoplasmosis, an infection coming from fungi carried by bats.
Sustaining the fungus that grows in bat excrement causes people to get infected.
According to doctors, diseases that overwhelm the lungs can lead to death in up to 40 percent of severe cases, and the infection may also reach the brain and spinal cord.
The disease was not fatal to any family members, and by 28 days after their cave visit and with treatment, all were recovering.
Based on what it saw, the CDC reports that people should be careful when entering bat caves or crawling through their excrement.
This announcement arrives just before the final episode of The Last of Us season two, which follows a similar premise on HBO.
Since its symptoms are like those of pneumonia, historically, histoplasmosis has been diagnosed late or not at all.
Bird and bat poop contain the fungus, which is found in soil throughout the central and eastern US.
Precautions & Safety Tips to Avoid Histoplasmosis
Avoid direct exposure to caves or areas where bats or birds nest—especially if excrement is visible.
Wear a well-fitted N95 mask or respirator when entering potentially contaminated environments like caves, abandoned buildings, or soil with bird/bat droppings.
Avoid disturbing the soil or guano in these areas, which can release fungal spores into the air.
Do not crawl or sit in confined, unventilated areas with visible bat or bird droppings.
Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience flu-like or respiratory symptoms after such exposure—especially if you’re immunocompromised.
Consider guided tours with trained experts who may know which areas are safe and which to avoid.