[Editor]

Mistaken for blood-thirsty ghouls, 18th century European rabies victims may have been the inspiration for the vampire legend. Neat article, just in time for Halloween!

Source: http://www.personalm...998092105.shtml

Not only do people with rabies have symptoms strikingly similar to the traits ascribed to vampires, but the vampire legend also originated in eastern Europe in the 18th century -- the site of a major rabies outbreak in the 1720s, according to the study.