Rabid Vampire Bats Bite 500 People In Jungle11:45am UK, Friday August 13, 2010
Huw Borland, Sky News Online 
Vampire bats infected with rabies have attacked more than 500 people in Peru - sparking an outbreak of the disease that has apparently killed four children.
The bloodsucking flying mammals swooped on villagers in the northeastern Urakusa region, where the Aguajun tribe lives.
Peruvian health ministry official Jose Bustamente said four children are thought to have died from rabies as a result.
He said medical supplies and vaccines to treat those infected have been sent to the triben affected.
Rabies, a virus that causes acute inflammation of the brain, is usually spread to humans by dog bites.
It has an incubation period that can last several months.
Health teams are looking for people in communities within six miles of the jungle outbreak who have been attacked by bats in the past six months.
Mr Bustamente said 97% of the 508 people who were bitten have begun receiving an anti-rabies vaccination.
It is expected that the rest - some of whom have rejected treatment - will be vaccinated in the next few days.
