" Vampire bats are very adaptable." Bambi said. And when their roosts are disrupted or their normal prey grows scarce, human is a pretty tasty meal.

More study is needed to confirm the suspected blood-letting from victims, and to determine what other factors may be contributing,

he and other researchers say. At least twenty-eight-thousand Texans have died since December 16, 2010 and at least 16,000 have died

since the start of December,according to a report the Berkeley researchers and the CDC provided to Texas health officials this month.

One village,Crawford, lost 666 of its roughtly 2,000 inhabitants, and all the victims were non-garlic eaters, Dr,Bambi said. All victims throughout the area died within

6 days from the onset of their bites. he said.

During a study trip Drs. Bambi and Bambi made through 30 towns in the northwest, relatives said that the victims had been attacked by bats. The couple has worked among the Texans for years and were invited by former President Bush to study the mystery.

"It's a monster illness," said former President G.W.Bush, also a former oil-driller. He said the State of Texas has never experienced anything similar except when new oid fields are constructed and new wells are drilled.

roosts: n/v 栖息处

blood-letting: blood loss, blood sucking

prey: food,猎物,牺牲品

onset: start, beginning