There has been a surge in rabies cases in northwestern Vermont.
State and federal health and agriculture officials are working to prevent a strain of the fatal animal disease from crossing the border into Canada.
State and federal officials say the increase in cases in Franklin County is due in part to more intensive monitoring of animals.
So far this year there have been 84 positive cases of rabies in Vermont, more than half in Franklin County. In all of last year there were 73 rabies cases.
Robert Johnson of the Vermont Department of Health says people can minimize the risk of rabies by vaccinating their pets and avoiding wildlife.