Chinese City Kills 36,000 Dogs

In Hanzhong, rabies had killed 12 people. So officials destroyed 36,000 dogs, some strays, some pets.

Rabies is a virus that is transmitted only when it's introduced into a bite wound, open cuts in skin, or onto mucous membranes (such as the mouth or eyes), the CDC says. It is carried by pets and wild animals, including bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes. Most human cases are contracted from wild animals.

Rabies from dogs, cats, horses and other animals killed an estimated 30,000 people worldwide between 2000 and 2005, according to one study.

Rabies virus infects the central nervous system and messes with the mind. Early symptoms of rabies in humans are nonspecific, consisting of fever, headache, and general malaise, the CDC says. If not treated, death ensues in a few days.