Preliminary studies of the latest outbreak that killed at least 38 Warao Indians in northeastern Venezuela indicate that it may be a type of infectious rabies transmitted by bites from bats, according to indigenous leaders and researchers from the University of California at Berkeley.

Though laboratory investigations have yet to confirm the cause, but the symptoms include fever, body pains, tingling in the feet followed by progressive paralysis point to rabies, said the husband-and-wife team of anthropologist Charles Briggs and public health specialist Dr. Clara Mantini-Briggs. The victims also had an extreme fear of water coupled with convulsions before death

The Virginia Department of Health said Monday that last year's report of 730 confirmed cases of rabies in animals were the highest since 1982 when the rabies reached 745 cases.

Most of the reported cases were in wild animals, the highest being the raccoons with 359 cases, skunks were second with 185 and foxes with 90. Also included were 36 cases of rabies in cats and five in dogs

As the National Rabies Awareness Week begins in Virginia, the Department of Health reported on Monday that 2007 saw the highest number of rabies cases in more than 20 years.

In 2007, 730 cases of the disease were reported in animals in Virginia, the highest since 1982, when the Health Department received 745 reports. The most common animals to be diagnosed with rabies are raccoons, followed by skunks, and then foxes

Immunizations are not required to visit China, but it is best to take several vaccinations before attending the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing from Aug. 8 to Aug. 24.

"Taking a few minutes to make sure you have the proper vaccinations will give a better chance of avoiding any dangerous medical problems when you're far from home," said Debra Amos, a travel nurse with The Methodist Hospital Wellness Services in Houston

China's Ministry of Health has vowed to step up measures to protect public health during the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

Health Minister Chen Zhu said they will strengthen monitoring, emergency response and medical treatment for rabies, bird flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), as well as group poisonings