Geographic distribution of dog bite incidents in Uruguay according to Department, season, and population density
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29155/VET.61.224.8Keywords:
One Health, Epidemiology, Well-being, Public healthAbstract
The human-animal bond, especially dogs, has increased in recent years, to the point where they are often considered part of the family. This bond has both positive and negative aspects for both species. Among the negative aspects for humans, dog bites on humans are a serious public health problem in Uruguay and worldwide, affecting mostly boys under 14 years of age. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of dog bites on humans by department in Uruguay according to the time of year, as well as to determine whether population density by department is associated with the bite rate. The source of information was notifications received by the Ministry of Public Health between January 2010 and December 2020. During this period, a total of 31,634 dog bite reports were received, of which 54.30 % corresponded to the metropolitan area, with rates of 86.46 and 80.95 per 100,000 inhabitants for Montevideo and Canelones, respectively. There is wide variation in bite rates by department, with Florida having the lowest rate at 22.10 (95 % CI: 8.20-36.00) and Flores the highest at 229.00 (95 % CI: 133.70-149.30). Regarding the season, there was a significant seasonal effect in 14 departments, with a higher incidence of bites in spring and summer. We found no correlation between population density and bite rates. This study is the first to describe the dog bite rate by department and its distribution by season and correlation with population density. Further studies should be conducted in each department and local assessments should be made.
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