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. 1997 Oct;87(10):1703–1705. doi: 10.2105/ajph.87.10.1703

Dog bite incidence in the city of Pittsburgh: a capture-recapture approach.

Y F Chang 1, J E McMahon 1, D L Hennon 1, R E LaPorte 1, J H Coben 1
PMCID: PMC1381140  PMID: 9357359

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the number of dog bite injuries occurring in the city of Pittsburgh in 1993. METHODS: The capture-recapture method was used, along with long-linear modeling. Three sources were used to identify victims hospital reports, animal control reports, and police/victim reports. RESULTS: In 1993, 790 dog bites were reported. The capture-recapture method estimated that there were 1388 unreported dog bites, with an estimated incidence rate of 58.9 per 10,000. CONCLUSIONS: Dog bite is a common our preventable injury. To improve surveillance, the focus should be on educating the general public about the serious consequences of dog bite injuries.

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Selected References

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