(Daily Argosy July 27, 1960).
The Medical Department is keeping a close watch on the reported outbreak of paralytic rabies caused by vampire bats which has so far taken the lives of three children with the death of a fourth suspected in the Aruka area in the North West District.
The first threat of the disease for this year occurred in May when an adult in the North West died under conditions which pointed to (although not verified) infection by vampire bat bite.
Since this occurrence two children from the Aruka area died at the Georgetown Hospital from paralytic rabies.
About eleven days ago another child from the North West was brought to the City and succumbed through the bites of vampire bats
The Medical Department, a spokesman said yesterday, had already taken steps to combat the outbreak of the disease and serum and vaccine have been provided by the Department for treatment in the North West.
Residents of Aruka have been alerted by Medical officials to avoid being bitten by bats of any type.
In 1953 there was an outbreak of Paralytic Rabies in the Kurupung creek.
Last year Mr. Greenhall attached to the Ministry of Agriculture in Trinidad visited B.G. and carried out a survey of the bat population in various parts of the country.
As a result of Mr. Greenhall’s visit two young Guianese were sent to Trinidad during the early part of this year to undergo training in the identification and destruction of bats
