Unlike in movies, there is no need to drain someone's blood to the point of death while converting them into a vampire. Anyone who claims to be a true vampire and believes they must drain you to the point of death in order to transform you into a vampire is a charlatan who should be avoided. True vampires can control their own feeding habits without killing humans to do so. In reality, modern vampires are not human beings but rather animals or even plants that have been infected with a parasite called "Toxoplasma gondii". This single-celled organism is found everywhere in the world - in soil, cat feces, meat - and can enter people through their mouth, nose, or skin. It can also cross over into people who work with or eat game or livestock that has been contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii eggs. Once inside the body, the parasite begins its invasion, finding its way into brain cells and turning them into feeding sites for itself and its offspring. People often assume that only human beings can become vampires, but the truth is that anyone can become infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Even if you do not show any signs of infection, you could be carrying it silently within your body.