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

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 log-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 but preventable injury. To improve surveillance,. the focus should be on educating the general public about the serious consequences of dog bite injuries.