GUYANA Manganese Incorporated (GMI), which is a subsidiary of Bosai Mineral Group Guyana (BMGG), has conducted preliminary investigations which point to bat dung being the cause of the respiratory illness resulting in the death of one Chinese national and the hospitalization of several other persons.

This is according to Company Secretary, Norman McLean, who on Monday, said the finding is only an assumption and officials are awaiting the results of the post mortem examination on the employee who died, before publishing an official statement. McLean explained that the issue does not lie directly with manganese mining, but with preparatory works for same. “This has nothing to do with manganese, what we had is a previous operation, there were four tubes there and we had to clear that area…it was bat dung that was causing the problem…of course we are only assuming,” McLean said.

Bat excrement, is very dangerous he said, and the Chinese nationals ventured into the tunnels and were directly exposed to it. This was a buildup of dung, from 50 years ago, when manganese mining ceased. One Guyanese, who was a driver, also was affected by the sickness. The area he said has been cleared already and it was days after that the workers started experiencing flu-like symptoms.

After refuting claims that the workers are affected by the H1N1 virus, which was reported in some sections of the media, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has since sent a team to the area and is engaging in discussions to ascertain the cause of the ailment. The team includes a pathologist, a Senior Environmental Health Officer; a mortuary attendant, and an Environmental Protection Agency staff.

The deceased worker was ailing for days before seeking medical attention at the Matthew’s Ridge Hospital last Thursday. He died Saturday and his body was airlifted to the capital on Monday.

GMI commenced preparatory work for manganese mining in 2017 and the operations represent an investment of approximately $500 Million. Exporting of the rare earth metal, is expected to start by the end of 2019. The mine has a projected lifespan of 15 to 35 years depending on the rate of extraction, using open pit mining methods. Manganese was first mined in Matthew’s Ridge in the 1950’s but later abandoned due to high costs and other factors. The increasing use of the rare earth metal in the production of high-tech equipment has seen the resuscitation of operations. Guyana is believed to have some of the world’s largest deposits of manganese.

Meanwhile, medical personnel at the Pakera Hospital at Matthew’s Ridge are expected to return to the medical facility on Tuesday, days after it was placed on lockdown following the death of the Chinese national. Reports are that the operations of the hospital were shifted to a community centre after persons seeking treatment for other ailments were not allowed access to the hospital. Residents of the community have been on edge after the situation regarding the men’s health was publicised. A Heaven Hill resident told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that she was concerned about the situation at the hospital since she has relatives who worked there. She expressed hope that the authorities would have brought some more clarity to the situation following several tests.

The manganese workers were taken to the area from the town of Linden to work as labourers at the mines by their employer, BOSAI Minerals. They were working at one of four tunnels at the mining site called “Rail Ends.” The tunnels have been in existence since the 1950’s when manganese was first mined at Matthew’s Ridge but they have been untouched for almost five decades.

Reports are that the mineral is usually washed and processed close to the tunnels. The men were exposed to mosquitoes while cleaning bat droppings from the tunnel, persons in the community related. Meanwhile, domestic airlines which operate flights into the North West District community were mulling precautionary measures in light of the death of the patient and uncertainty regarding a diagnosis. Reports are that the airlines are awaiting a definitive word from the authorities before deciding on any measures.