A new health crisis in north-eastern Brazil is truly the stuff of nightmares.
One man is dead and more than 40 others are being treated for possible exposure to rabies, after a bizarre series of attacks by so-called 'vampire' bats (pictured).
Victims have reported waking with bed sheets soaked with blood after the flying rodents nibbled on their toes, heels and elbows while they were asleep.
The man who died was a farmer, who was bitten after stepping on a bat and dismissing the injury rather than seeking medical attention.
Three weeks later he was hospitalised suffering headaches, nausea and severe anxiety, and recalled the incident as doctors searched for a cause.
He tested positive for rabies but unfortunately it was too late to administer the vaccine and he died a short time later.
Officials issued a formal warning which led to a spate of reports from others about the bites.
The nocturnal bats are native to South America, and feed on blood, puncturing the skin of their prey - usually horses, cattle or other animals - with sharp teeth.
A spokesperson for the rabies surveillance unit confirmed there had been changes in bat behaviour and an increase in the local population due to deforestation.
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