Bats overtake dogs as leading cause of human rabies infections in US
Until 1960, most human cases of rabies in the US were caused by exposure to infected dogs, but now wildlife cause nearly every case, with bats accounting for about 70% of human rabies cases acquired in the US, according to a CDC report. The CDC also noted an increase in the number of mass bat exposures, when at least 10 people come into contact with a possibly rabid bat, and the CDC recommends vaccinating pets, avoiding contact with wildlife and seeking medical attention quickly if contact with wildlife does occur.