Rabies 411: Vital parenting information from Eyewitness News

About 90 percent of all cases of rabies reported nationwide, occur from wildlife. The Centers for Disease control says the number of deaths from rabies in the country, was one or two per year in the 90's. The main carriers of the disease are wild carnivores and bats.

Playing outside with pets is a fun summer pasttime. But that play can turn dangerous if the animal is unfamiliar and is carrying the potentially deadly virus, rabies. One person in history has survived rabies. So that mean's going to extremes to protect against it.

Dr. Joe Matusic/Pediatrician
It can crop up from year to year but you never know if you're going to be the one exposed to it. Rabies; one person has survived it in history, so by the time you have symptoms it's a death sentence.

Rabies can be found in cats and dogs, raccoons, and skunks. Any warm blooded animal can pass it to you. Especially bats. Dr. Matusic says if you've experienced a bat in a room, you have to assume exposure.

Dr. Joe Matusic/Pediatrician
Bats have it in their saliva in their feces and that can transmit to you before you know it. There have been bat bites so small a child couldn't tell they were bitten

Dr. Joe Matusic/Pediatrician
An animal shows signs today and you were exposed today, you have 8-10 days to start the shots then you're fine.

If that bite comes from an unfamiliar animal. The doctor suggests capturing it so you can either check the tags. Or call for help. If you catch an animal there are tests they can do, live or deceased. So let Animal Control handle it. And it is considered an emergency.