Vampire Bat Habitat Expansion Raises Rabies Risk, Approaches US

A new study published in the journal Ecography reveals that climate change is causing shifts in the range of vampire bat habitats, increasing the risk of rabies spillover events. The study predicts that vampire bats could extend their range into the continental USA within the next 27 years. Rabies, primarily impacting livestock, poses a significant threat to the food supply chain and public health. U.S. officials have taken measures to prepare for the arrival of vampire bats, including surveillance and education campaigns. Symptoms of rabies in humans and animals are similar, and the disease is almost always fatal once clinical signs appear.