Canine rabies can be imported into the United States from abroad and travelers should be aware of the risk of rabies exposure when traveling to countries where rabies is common in dogs and should not import animals without properly vaccinating them against rabies and adhering to animal importation laws, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Thursday said canine rabies virus variants can still be imported by unvaccinated dogs from countries where it is common in animals, specifically Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America.

Rabies between canine variants are responsible for most of the 55,000 human deaths from rabies reported globally each year, the report said.

When traveling in areas where rabies is common, travelers should not pet stray animals, nor is it advisable to adopt stray animals without a veterinarian's health assessment. But if animals are adopted they should be properly vaccinated before importation to the United States, the CDC advises.