Blaming The Bats

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Friday April 28, 2006 @03:20PM from the kree-kree-off-into-the-night-searching-for-bananas dept.

d'alz writes "Bats have long been the subject of various conflicting theories. They have been linked with lethal viruses that cause Ebola hemorrhagic fever, SARS, Nipah or Hendra. But of late researchers have taken a complete shift in these theories. They now claim that bats are being blamed for human mistakes. It now seems that these outbreaks could be a direct result of the encroachments that took place over the years in the rainforests." From the article: "Emerging viruses like the one that causes SARS are symptoms of the drastic, large-scale changes humans are making in the life of the planet. At a time of intense concern about avian flu, it is hardly controversial to argue that human health is linked to animal health. But the field challenges traditional academic divisions, especially the cultural divide between doctors and veterinarians."

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It's not the people, it's the cows!?!!1111 by crazyjeremy · 2006-04-28 15:23 · Score: 4, Interesting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4398660.stm article saying Vampire Bats in brazil are killing humans (23 in the last 2 months.) In all 1,300 people have been treated for rabies from bat bites. Some experts blame it on deforestation. Others blame it on lots of cows (really, see article). "Mass attacks on humans have occurred in other cattle regions in Latin America when the cattle are suddenly removed."

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Funnypics
Who to blame: humans or bats ?! by suv4x4 · 2006-04-28 16:00 · Score: 4, Funny

I suggest a reasonable compromise: let's blame Batman.
Great... by ugmoe · 2006-04-28 16:53 · Score: 4, Insightful

Now I understand:
If humans kill animals, it is the humans' fault. If animals kill humans, it is the humans' fault.
Yep - that pretty much sums it up.