title: The animal bite epidemic in Baltimore, Maryland: review and update.
abstract: In 1972 in Baltimore, a peak of 7,436 reported animal bites (8/1,000 population) was reached. The bite rate for the most susceptible age group (5-14) was 19 per 1,000 population. By 1976, only 5,092 bites were reported, 5.8 per 1,000 total population, and 12.3 per 1,000 population 5-14 years of age. The decline in the number and rates of animal bites is believed due in large measure to the actions taken by the Bureau of Animal Control: education and publicity, increased fees and penalties, and enforcement of the new laws and regulations.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland