Epidemiologic Study of Animal Bites in Sarbisheh County 2011-16

Background and Aims: Rabies is one of the common diseases among humans and animals. It is one of acute viral diseases afflicting central neural system mostly prevalent among domestic and wild carnivores. Humans and other warm-blooded mammals are mostly afflicted by animal bite in random. The fatality rate of this disease is high and after emerging the clinical symptoms, whether in humans or animals, it is not treatable and death would be inevitable. The present study aimed at epidemiologic study of animal bites in Sarbisheh County. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with study population bitten by animals during 2011-16 and referring to Rabies Unit of Sarbisheh County. Data related to animal bite were collected through forms designed in County’s Health Center and analyzed through SPSS (V. 16) and t-test and Chi-square tests. Results: During 2011-16, 622 cases of animal bites were reported and got under intervention and treatment. The average age of bitten cases was 34.83    21.9 distributing as 35% females and 65% males. Most of the animal bites were reported from countryside (81.7%), from mad dogs (83.5%), and most of them were domestic animals (84.5%). Animal bites were most frequent in winter, and all of these differences were statistically significant.   Conclusion: Considering the high rate of animal bites in Sarbisheh, it is recommended more training and preventive measures to be taken regarding animal bites and County wild animals.