It's tempting to make vampire jokes, but I can't because this is actually a serious story.

In a remote Venezuelan village, 38 people have died from rabies that appears to be spread by vampire bat attacks. The deaths started occurring about a year ago.

Experts are saying the very adaptable vampire bat will look to humans if their normal prey -- such as birds, cows and monkeys -- is running scarce.

We can't be that angry with the bats. Their saliva contains a substance called Draculin that prevents victims blood from clotting. So the bat can lap up blood easier. Scientists have manufactured a drug called Desmoteplase which uses the principles of bat saliva to assist in the blood flow of stroke patients.

Even so, be on the lookout for vampire bats.