Subscribe now

Letter: Batting for bats

Published 26 February 2014

From Alan Wellings

As a former bat ecologist I thought your article on diseases carried by bats (8 February, p 44) unnecessarily demonised these animals, which already get a bad press. What next? “Humans: nasty carriers of millions of diseases, avoid”, or “birds: flying bags of flu virus: don’t touch”? All animals are disease vectors and many diseases carried by other animals are transferable to humans.
Mount Albert, Ontario, Canada

Issue no. 2958 published 1 March 2014

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop