What do you do if you’re stuck in a Third World country where corrupt officials have left your nation on the verge of famine? Of course, you go hunting for vampires. That’s what’s happened in Malawi where mass hysteria about alleged vampire attacks has led to full-scale vigilantism. The stories range from the typical lone or small group of vampires (who can be identified and beaten by mobs — one man has already been stoned to death) to conspiracy theories about the government and the United Nationals collaborating to kill people and steal their blood. Forget smart mobs, good old fashioned stupid mobs are still the rule in many parts of the world. Source: ‘Vampires’ strike Malawi villages. The BBC, December 23, 2002.