Vampire Bats Kill 11 People In Brazil
POSTED: 2:31 pm EDT June 21,
2005
UPDATED: 2:42 pm EDT June 21,
2005
In less than two months, 11 people have died from rabies transmitted by vampire bats in the northern Brazilian state of Para, according to health officials.
Authorities said the victims were bitten near the small town of Augusto Correa, about 1,500 miles northeast of Rio de Janeiro.Josefa Ferreira has lost five children -- all under the age of 5 years old -- because of rabies caused by bites from the vampire bats. According to her, none of her children received the vaccine.
More than 1,300 people from 20 small communities around Augusto Correa and Vizeu have been vaccinated. And more than 700 cats and dogs have also received the vaccination.Health officials attempting to catch the vampire bats have nabbed about 300 in the area, according to the report.Some residents believe that deforestation has driven the bats from their natural jungle habitat and led to the increased number of bites.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.










