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AFTER YEARS OF stories that the vampire bat was the causing the spread of rabies throughout Latin America, research has indicated that in Peru, over 500 cattle a year die of the disease passed on by the creature.
Vampire bat-transmitted rabies can be transmitted to both humans and livestock – but the extent of its reach has been largely anecdotal up until now.
Rabies is among the most important diseases for human and animal health in Latin America. The common vampire bat is the main source and the main prevention methods are culling of bats and vaccination of humans and livestock.
The research studied questionnaires on livestock health and the knowledge farmers in 40 communities had of the disease, as well as passive national surveillance data on 11 years of vampire bat rabies outbreaks.
Their models calculated that there are 4.6 cases of vampire bat rabies per reported case, leading to between 505 and 724 cattle deaths in 2014 in the study area and costing €103,445 - €146,074.
Together, animal mortality costs combined with vaccination costs totaled the equivalent of €254,793 per year, representing a major loss for impoverished farming communities that rely on livestock for subsistence.
The study also showed that the perceived risk of rabies in an area greatly affected both reporting of cattle mortality and vaccination coverage, suggesting that campaigns to increase awareness could reduce the vampire bat rabies burden.
“This estimate, at least four times higher than official reports, is essential in planning and implementing cost-effective measures to prevent and control the disease, which mainly affects low-income, small-scale farmers,” the researchers say.
Our results further suggest that increasing the risk perception of communities that are far from reporting offices could both increase reporting and reduce cattle losses by encouraging preventative vaccination in high risk areas.
The new study, which also detailed risk factors, appears in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
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Know two with long covid. No joke, totally knocked both. Both lads one mid 30s other mid 50s.
Hope this young lady returns to 100%
@Tom Ripley: the ‘open everything’ crowd wont like to read this.
Sounds very like those who suffer with autoimmune diseases like lupus, MS, Crohn’s disease, UC, AIH, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, PSC, PBC and many others. The fatigue, the flares, lack of empathy from employers etc.
@Serge the llama: I have Psoriatic arthritis but luckily my medication I has worked wonders for me and I’m able to do most of the things I want to do. But you’re right, before I was diagnosed and could barely walk down the stairs, the lack of understanding was staggering.
@Serge the llama: many of those illnesses are starting to be linked to underlying #MCAS. Could count on 1 hand the Drs with MCAS or MC awareness.
Good article, well said Eilish, I hope you make a full recovery very soon and that your comments are heeded.
Most of us can appreciate nurses and the work they do. That said, is it reasonable to elevate them alone when about 3 times as many of their colleagues have the same issues and remain silent, I’m not questioning that some are seriously ill, so are many other people. I don’t believe anyone should be penalised for being ill and that there should maybe arrangements made for all healthcare workers who became ill as a nature of their work, not just nurses alone.
Maybe everyone could clap for them again?
@cryptodon: that was the UK not Ireland.
@Eamonn Martin: obvious Trolling
There is no question about it anyone who is in this situation should not have to worry about getting paid.they should be paid in full and not have sick pay reduced or taken into account later when they return to work
I’m a firefighter and have been out of work with long covid since December and can relate to all the issues in the article. Unfortunately for everyone in this 2 tier society if you don’t have private health insurance you can’t access post covid clinics. The HSE needs to step up now and help public patients get back to work. The whole scenario is extremely frustrating.
@Eamonn Martin: Hope you never get it so.
@Eamonn Martin: are u ready for the backlash sir :), enjoy
COVID-19 Hyperinflammation & Post-Covid-19 Illness may be linked to newly recognised Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.
See a paper here
@Thomas O’ Donnell: So do I Tommy. If I do, I hope I don’t die or suffer long effects. Doesn’t mean the world should be on hold because of that tiny risk though.
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have your say