Arizona health authorities are issuing a warning to all residents about a rise in animal rabies cases across the state.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there has already been 77 cases reported in the first five months of the year,
Last year, there were only 54 cases within the first five months.
Most of the animals identified with the disease were in rural areas, and the bulk of them were skunks and foxes.
The list of worries doesn't stop there, though. State health officials also expect an increase in rabid bats as the weather gets warmer.
Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, says pets should be kept on a leash and vaccinated against rabies, and people and pets should not interact with wild animals in rural areas.
