title: Bat consumption in Thailand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human consumption of bats poses an increasing public health threat globally. Communities in which bat guano is mined from caves have extensive exposure to bat excreta, often harvest bats for consumption, and are at risk for bat-borne diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This rapid ethnographic study was conducted in four provinces of Thailand (Ratchaburi, Sakaeo, Nakorn Sawan, and Phitsanulok), where bat guano was mined and sold during the period April-August 2014. The aim of this study was to understand behaviors and risk perceptions associated with bat conservation, exposure to bats and their excreta, and bat consumption. Sixty-seven respondents playing various roles in bat guano mining, packaging, sale, and use as fertilizer participated in the study. Data were collected through interviews and/or focus group discussions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In spite of a bat conservation program dating back to the 1980s, the benefits of conserving bats and the risks associated with bat consumption were not clear and infrequently articulated by study respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since bat consumption continues, albeit covertly, the risk of bat-borne diseases remains high. There is an opportunity to reduce the risk of bat-borne diseases in guano-mining communities by strengthening bat conservation efforts and raising awareness of the health risks of bat consumption. Further research is suggested to test behavior change strategies for reducing bat consumption.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases in Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; kanokwan27@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kanokwan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suwannarong
authors.affiliation: FHI 360, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuler
keywords: Bat; Bat Consumption; PREVENT Project; Thailand; USAID Emerging Pandemic Threats Program