Animal bites pose a major public health problem in children and adults worldwide. The health impacts of animal bites are dependent on the type and health of the animal species, the size and health of the bitten person, and accessibility to appropriate health care.

• Animal bites are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
• Dog bites account for tens of millions of injuries annually; the highest risk is among children.
• Rabies is a significant health concern following bites by dogs, cats, bats and raccoons.

In the U.S., approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year. Of these, nearly 885 000 seek medical care; 30 000 have reconstructive procedures; 3–18% develop infections and between 10 and 20 fatalities occur. Worldwide, an estimated 59 000 people die annually from rabies, and bites from rabid dogs account for the vast majority of these deaths.

Stark County Dog Warden

Communities – especially children – should be informed about the risks of dog bites and prevention techniques such as avoiding stray dogs and never leaving a child unattended around any dog.

Health-care providers should be educated on the appropriate management of dog bites. Health authorities and policy-makers should ensure rabies control within dog populations, ensure appropriate supplies of rabies vaccines for potential rabies exposure in people, and develop data collection systems to further document the burden of this problem.

Canton City Public Health plans to reduce the incidence of animal bits in the community by 10% by the end of 2020. A staff member will be assigned to develop and market a "Fight the Animal Bite" educational and marketing campaign. After implementing the plan, CCPH will evaluate the results of the marketing and education campaign and analyze the rate of animal bite exposures.