"[On Tuesday] the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a national management plan to combat white-nose syndrome, a disease that has killed more than a million hibernating bats in eastern North America since it was discovered in caves near Albany, New York in 2006.

White-nose syndrome is responsible for unprecedented mortality in hibernating bats in the northeastern United States. This previously unrecognized disease has spread very rapidly since its discovery in January 2007, and poses a threat to hibernating bats throughout North America.

"Having spread to 18 states and four Canadian provinces, white-nose syndrome threatens far-reaching ecological and economic impacts," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. "We've learned a lot in the past few years about the disease, but there is much more work to be done to contain it." "

Environment News Service had the story May 17, 2011. [2]