Epidemiological patterns of animal bites in Northwest of Iran

Background & Aims: Mortality and morbidity resulting from injuries caused by animals are increasing globally.Among these injuries, rabies, one of the oldest zoonosis viral diseases, remains one of the most important threats to public health in the 21st century.This study aims to investigate the epidemiology of animal bites and associated factors in Maku city. Materials & Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 1,401 cases with animal bites referred to the Maku Rabies Treatment Center were investigated using the census method from 2016 to 2019.The variables included the victims' demographic information (age, gender, occupation), the types of biting animals (dog, cat, and other animals), domesticated and wild animals, the time of biting based on year and month, the event area (urban or rural), the treatment status, and the anatomical location of the wounds. Results:The mean incidence rate of animal bites was 387.4 per 100,000 people.In total, 73.7% of the victims were male.Individuals in the age range of 36-50 and 11-20 years were at a greater risk.The majority of the animal bites were from dogs (90.8%), and (95.2%) were from household animals.A total of 82.7% of individuals lived in rural areas.Most victims were students and housewives.The highest prevalence of animal bites (36.2%) happened in the summer. Conclusion:These findings suggest a need for increased awareness and preventative measures to reduce the incidence of animal bites in the studied region.