LIMA, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 12 children have died of rabies in the last four months after being bitten by bats in a remote Peruvian province, local health authorities said Wednesday.

    The children, all aged under six, suffered bat bites since September last year in Condorcanqui province, about 860 km northeast of Lima.

    A local official said that over 2,300 people have been bitten by bats in the province, many of them having symptoms like fever, muscular pains and convulsions.

    The Peruvian Health Ministry has announced Condorcanqui province, which borders Ecuador, a health emergency zone and launched a major vaccination program there.

    Health officials said they will also try to vaccinate the rabies-carrying bats by spraying them with anti-bacterial agents in a bid to stop the fatal transmission. Enditem