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Learning English - Words in the News 02 November, 2005 - Published 13:36 GMT Rabid Vampire Bats attack humans in Brazil | ||||||||||||
Health authorities in northern Brazil are trying to deal with increasing numbers of attacks on humans by vampire bats. More than 1,300 people have been treated for rabies after being bitten by the bats and during the last 2 months, 23 people have died. This report from Tom Gibb: It's not the first time there's been a wave of attacks by vampire bats in the Amazon, but the authorities say this latest outbreak is unusually serious. Sixteen people died of rabies last month after being bitten by bats in an area of marshlands in the northern state of Maranhao. Seven more have died this month in another municipality of the same state. Health authorities say they've treated more than thirteen hundred people for rabies after being attacked by vampire bats, almost always at night in their houses. In the affected areas, people have been trying to fill gaps in the walls of their huts with banana leaves to stop the bats getting in. Some experts have blamed the attacks on destruction of the rainforest, denying the bats of their natural habitat. But others have suggested the vampire bat population may have grown rapidly with the spread of cattle farming in the region providing an ample food supply. Mass attacks on humans have occurred in other cattle regions in Latin America when the cattle are suddenly removed, denying the bats their normal food. The bats drink the blood of other mammals while they're asleep. They're the main carriers of rabies in Brazil. Tom Gibb, BBC, Sao Paulo a wave of attacks by vampire bats this latest outbreak is unusually serious rabies to fill gaps in the walls of their huts blamed the attacks on destruction of the rainforest denying natural habitat the spread of cattle farming providing an ample food supply Do a comprehension quiz about this story |
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