Summary:
- The article discusses a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS) that has been killing millions of bats in North America since it was first detected in 2006.
- Researchers have found a link between the decline of bat populations due to WNS and an increase in infant mortality rates in certain regions of the United States.
- The article suggests that the loss of bats, which play a crucial role in controlling insect populations, may have contributed to the spread of diseases that affect human infants, highlighting the importance of bat conservation efforts.