A dog is vaccinated against rabies after being blessed at a church in Manila in this Oct. 1, 2006 file photo. Saturday was the World Rabies Day, which is a global initiative by the nonprofit Alliance for Rabies Control to raise awareness about the effects of human and animal rabies and how the disease can be prevented. (Xinhua Photo/Reuters/file)

    LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The city of Los Angeles marked World Rabies Day which falls on Saturday by warning people to be on guard against rabies.

    Public officials reminded pet owners about vaccinations being offered at animal shelters this month.

    World Rabies Day is a global initiative by the nonprofit Alliance for Rabies Control to raise awareness about the effects of human and animal rabies and how the disease can be prevented.

    "Rabies in humans is rare in Los Angeles County; however this disease does affect more than 55,000 people worldwide," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's top physician. "Rabies in humans is completely preventable through prompt medical treatment."

    In the United States, most people get rabies from bat bites, Fielding said. Any sick bat should be reported to public health officials, he said.

    About 20 bats which have tested positive for rabies have been found around Los Angeles County this year.

    The county Department of Animal Care and Control is holding weekly rabies vaccinations clinic at various shelters.