Fatal dog bites in New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE
To examine fatalities from dog bites in New Zealand and review New Zealand's most recent fatalities, and the commonalities they show with dog attacks both in New Zealand and overseas.


METHODS
Information was collated from past studies, international reviews, and press coverage and then summarised. This information was then applied and added to a forensic review of the dog bite-related fatality recorded in 2004 in Dunedin.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs are no different the world over. There have been five confirmed dog bite-related fatalities in New Zealand. Dog attacks in New Zealand strongly resemble those from other developed countries. Indeed similar situations increase the odds of an attack. Awareness of these situations may make avoidance of dog bites easier.
Healey
David
D
Department of Oral Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin. david.healey@dent.otago.ac.nz.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology