Peru Battles Plague of Vampire Bats

500 bitten, 4 dead in Amazon attacks
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 13, 2010 3:44 AM CDT
Updated Aug 13, 2010 5:52 AM CDT
Peru Battles Plague of Vampire Bats
Vampire bats usually attack wildlife or livestock but have been known to prey on humans in areas where their natural habitat has been destroyed.   (Wikipedia/Acatenazzi)

Peru has dispatched emergency teams to deal with an outbreak of rabies spread by vampire bats. The bloodsuckers have attacked over 500 people in a remote Amazon area, including four children who died, the BBC reports. Most victims have now been vaccinated. Experts believe the bats have started preying on humans because of deforestation.
(More vampire bats stories.)

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