Mexican ecologist Rodrigo Medellin calls for not killing bats and reinforcing vaccination amid rabies alert. Mexican ecologist Rodrigo Medellin, a principal researcher at the Institute of Ecology of UNAM, spoke out about the health alert in Veracruz following the death of a person in the municipality of Jesús Carranza, supposedly from a bat bite on Isla. Medellin explained that while it is necessary to act to control rabies outbreaks, "it would be a barbarity" to attempt to eliminate bats, as these animals perform essential functions in the ecosystem. He pointed out that of the 146 bat species in Mexico, only three are hematophagous, and the most common, Desmodus rotundus, mainly feeds on domestic and wild animals: "Only when there is no food does it start to look for alternatives and that's when it gets into trouble with humans." He warned that killing bats would not only be ineffective against rabies but also detrimental to agriculture: "Between 20 and 30% of the corn, rice, cotton, and bean crops in Mexico and the world are due to bats controlling pests." He emphasized that the protection of caves and habitats is fundamental, and that vaccination campaigns and education about bites are the most effective measures. The researcher stressed the importance of caution: "First, it would be necessary to see if it was indeed a bite from a hematophagous bat," before taking drastic measures that could affect the ecological balance and food security.
