Bats bite over 500 people in Peru

Lima, Aug 13 (IANS/EFE) At least 508 people have been bitten by rabid bats in Peru’s Amazon region, causing one of the worst ever outbreaks of the disease in the country.

A child from the Awajun Indian tribe died after being bitten in Urakusa region, health officials said, adding that most of the people in the region have been vaccinated with rabies vaccine.

Three other people have also died, but the rabies virus could not be confirmed in their bodies because their families refused to allow autopsies to be performed.

Rabies outbreaks - particularly through bat bites - are a regular occurrence in this region, the health ministry said.

–IANS/EFE