Hollow trees may harbour poisonous fungus: Doctor

A top hospital physician on Tuesday advised people not to step inside tree hollows in their quests to observe lesser false vampire bats due to the risk of exposure to dangerous fungus spores.

People step inside the hollow of a tree in Nakhon Si Thammarat in the hope of spotting lesser false vampire bats. They have been warned to avoid doing so due to the risk of exposure to dangerous fungus spores after seven people contracted an infection called Histoplasmosis.

Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a pulmonologist from Vichaiyut Hospital, issued the warning on his Facebook fan page after seven out of 10 people contracted an infection, called Histoplasmosis, after entering a tree hollow in Nakhon Si Thammarat while looking for the bats.