A Warao Indian Family in Venezuela where 38 Warao have been killed by what is thought to be vampi...
Credit: Photo: Roar Johansen | ©Wikimedia Commons
How You Can Help Prevent More Deaths from Vampire Bat Attacks
The New York Times reports that 38 people have been killed in remote villages in Venezuela since June, from symptoms highly characteristic of rabies spread by vampire bat bites. The people of this area, the Warao Indians, live in primitive villages and sleep in open huts, which present no barrier to the silent vampire bat. Treatment for rabies is entirely unavailable to the Warao Indians. With no real economic participation in the Venezuelan society, even if access were available, they would have no way to pay for it. Community leaders and health professionals report little concern from the Venezuelan government for the rash of deaths. One Warao leader said that their entreaties to the Venezuelan Health Ministry were treated "as if the deaths of indigenous people are not even worth noting."Call to Action
If this bothers you as much as it bothers me, I urge you to take action. Send an email to this address, mpps@mpps.gob.ve, at the Venezuelan Ministry of Health (Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud). Politely request that more attention be given to the recent outbreak of deaths among the Warao people due to rabies-like symptoms caused by vampire bat attacks as requested by Dr. Mantini-Briggs, Mr. Enrique Moraleda, and others. Add your voice to that of those demanding action instead of empty promises. Lives can be saved, and you can help. Urge your friends and colleagues to participate in this campaign as well. Let's make a difference.
- Vampire bats are thought to be responsible for 38 deaths among the Warao Indians since June.
- Vampire bats attack by making razor cuts in their sleeping victims and then licking up the blood.
- Without access to medical care, rabies infections are almost universally fatal.
Comments
In this area, people advertise bat houses due to the bat's voracious appetite for mosquitoes. I was toying with the idea until just last week I read an article where a bat was verified to be rabid that had bit a teenager in Arlington, Texas. Although Arlington is not "next door" to me, it was close enough to help me choose not to purchase any bat houses this year.
Thanks for a great read.
I am terrified of bats and have been since I was a child. Early on in my marriage, a bat somehow got in our house and I cravenly cowered under the covers.
Thanks, Brad, for bringing this to our attention as well as letting us know how we can help!
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