Rabies is still a human health hazard in the United States and adjoining countries, as illustrated by the recent death of an elderly man in the San Francisco Bay Area after being bitten by a dog in Mexico and the July death of a young girl infected by a rabid bat in New York. In fact, rabies has reached epidemic proportions among raccoons in the northeastern United States, according to Dr. Bruno Chomel, an epidemiologist at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. In California, rabies among wildlife continues to be persistent in bats and skunks, says Chomel, who has prepared a 10-year overview of rabies in the state. "People need to make sure to vaccinate their cats, as well as dogs, because cats are even more likely to have contact with wildlife," he says. Chomel will present his overview at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, in Room 2113 of the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.