Sunday, August 15, 2010

Now This Really Sucks...!


Do you believe in vampires...?

Well, here's one you can definitely believe in and stay away from! These things are ugly, especially up close! I've seen them in the Houston zoo, and I don't want to be around them at all!



Killer vampire bats attack 500 people

Rabid vampire bats have attacked more than 500 people in Peru's Amazon, leading to the deaths of four children.

The attacks occurred in the village of Urakusa, in northeastern Peru, where the indigenous Aguajun tribe lives. At least four people are believed to have succumbed to rabies as a result.

Medical supplies and vaccines to treat those infected with rabies have been sent to the tribe.

Rabies, a virus that causes acute inflammation of the brain, is usually spread to humans by dog bites and has an incubation period that can last several months.

Health teams are looking for people in communities within 6 miles (10 km) of the outbreak who were attacked by bats any time in the last six months.

Jose Bustamente, a Health Ministry official, said 97 percent 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.


I guess the main thing to remember here is that a lot of different animals can carry rabies, so please...PLEASE have all your pets vaccinated!

So now, my friends, let's have some coffee on the patio! Don't have to worry about bats around here...except the ones in my belfry!

19 comments:

Bob Mc said...

Doesn't have to be vampires to carry rabies. Other kinds of bats can carry it too; as can skunks, foxes, raccoons, etc, etc. I even heard of a rabid horse once, probably bitten by a skunk or bat. I get periodic emails from our local veterinarian, and there have been several rabid foxes found in Oregon, as well as a couple on this side of the border in northern CA. All dogs and domestic cats should be vaccinated.

HermitJim said...

Hey Bob...
Very important to remember this! So many folks tend to overlook it, I think!

Thanks for coming by today!

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Thankfully we haven´t had rabies here for over hundred years now. But they have found bats in Denmark that carries a rabies that is said not to infect humans. But we all know how easy those viruses changes.
Have a great day now!
Christer.

Mechanic in Illinois said...

Maybe if you wear a garlic necklace they won't attack you. Thanks for another great lesson.

HermitJim said...

Hey Christr...
I think that's great that you don't hve this terrible virus there ! Hopefully, you will never have to deal with it!

You have a great day, and thanks for coming by today!


Hey Mechanic...
Don't know if that would work or not, but anything is worth a try! Scary looking critters, aren't they?

I appreciate you coming by today!

Selous Scout said...

I just woke up. Is that a picture of Henry Waxman?

Noki said...

When I first saw this pictures, I thought, "Where did Dad get a picture of that guy who kept hitting on me that night on the bus?" Part of the reason I avoid public transportation. Still... I see a theme... First insane zombies, now rabid vampires. Hrm. Halloween approacheth!

Hugs,
Ashley

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One
Nasty little critters only his mother could love that face. Anyway yes rabies are a bad thing. I think my computer has rabies.
Please pass the pot and lets enjoy what is left of the morning.

HermitJim said...

Hey Scout...
Ya know, it just could be at that! Never know...cause all these blood-uckers start to look alike!

Thanks for the visit today!


Hey Ashley...
Only reason you see a theme is that we have a reunion coming up! Who knows what will show up when we shake the family tree?

Thanks for the visit today!


Hey JoJo...
I'm afraid that even a mother would have to work at it on this one!

Maybe your PC just had a stroke...and not a virus! Happens to a lot of us older things!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!

Ben in Texas said...

Dang flying rats!!! Up here rabies in a bat is real rare,, in fact I considered putting in a bat house out on the barn a few years ago.. But never got around to it..

Bats have a bad rap all over, but they can eat their weight in mosquitoes in an evening.. Good little critters.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
Around Austin, bat houses are a big seller! Could be because of the really big colony that lives under the Congress street bridge, just a couple of blocks from the state capitol building!

When I used to live in east Texas, I would sit on my porch in the evening and watch the bats swoop and swerve around, eating all the mosquitoes coming out of the woods! Man, they could really move!

Still time to put up that bat house! Might be good for the skeeters!

Thanks for coming by, buddy!

Dizzy-Dick said...

Dang Jim, I thought that you did live in East Texas, isn't Houston in East Texas? I consider where I live here in Cut & Shoot to be East Texas.

All warm blooded animals, including man, can have and pass on rabies. Isn't one of the dangers to spelunkers the infected bat quano, or is this an old wive's tale?

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
I always think of Houston as being south Texas! When I think of East Texas, I think of Tyler, Jacksonville, places lie that!

The east I was talking about was Jacksonville, Texas!

All depends on your outlook, I guess!

Thanks for coming by today, buddy!

Marjie said...

I have bats in my belfry, for real. Except that I don't have a belfry, so they're in my slate roof. *sigh* But it was fun to call the "Bat Men" and announce that I have bats in my belfry, and could they help me with that issue!

HermitJim said...

hey Marjie...
Always gets their attention when someone makes a call like that!

Nothing like rattling someone's cage a little!

Bet you don't have a very big skeeter problem with all the bats!

Thanks for the visit today!

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

What a frightening face!

HermitJim said...

Hey Elizabeth...
Good of you to stop by today! I think that it sort of looks like me in the mirror when I first wake up in the morning!

Thank you so much for coming by today!

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

Oh, my word! And I was just beginning to feel a little relieved about looking at myself in the mirror. I seem to be missing the fangs, at least.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Quite a scary fellow - enough to be frightening without the rabies danger.