Vampire bats attack 500, kill 4

More than 500 people in a village in Peru’s Amazon have been bitten by rabid vampire bats in attacks that have left four children dead.

Deforestation has been blamed for the attacks, in and around the village of Urakusa – as the bats have been brought into closer proximity with people. Only 0.5% vampire bats carry rabies, however, the disease causes them to become clumsy, disoriented and unable to fly. When you add tiny teeth and painless bites into the mix, you get an idea of why the indigenous Aguajun tribe have been hit so hard by the airborne mammals.

Medical teams with vaccines have been dispatched to the area. [Telegraph]