Boffins have warned a pandemic may be about to turn our world upside down after common vampire bats were found with a devastating strain of bird flu called the H5N1 virus A deadly new bird flu strain has spread to bats (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Fears of a new pandemic grinding humanity to a standstill have emerged after vampire bats were found with a deadly strain of bird flu. The H5N1 virus was brought to South America by migratory birds where it spread along the Pacific Coast.

The disease ravaged populations of dolphins, sea lions and elephant seals with countless carcases washing up on the shores of Peru and Chile. Now, a ground breaking study has revealed H5N1 has made it one step closer to humans by spreading to land mammals – common vampire bats.

The developments

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