Animal bites, active and reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2001-2010

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Military Medicine
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Animal bites represent a significant public health concern, particularly within military populations who may be deployed to regions with endemic zoonotic diseases.
• Understanding the epidemiology of animal bites in U.S. military members is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence and characteristics of animal bites among U.S. military personnel from 2001 to 2010.
• To identify risk factors associated with animal bites and assess rabies post-exposure prophylaxis documentation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical encounter data for U.S. military members diagnosed with animal bites between 2001 and 2010.
• Data extraction included bite source, location of encounter (combat theater vs. non-combat), demographic information, occupation, and rabies prophylaxis status.

Main Results:

• A total of 20,522 animal bite diagnoses were recorded; 643 (3.1%) occurred in combat theaters.
• Dog bites constituted the majority, with higher incidence in males, soldiers, and those in infantry and law enforcement roles.
• A small percentage of cases documented rabies virus exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis.

Conclusions:

• Animal bites are a notable issue within the U.S. military, with specific demographic and occupational risk factors identified.
• The low rate of rabies prophylaxis documentation highlights a potential gap in care and prevention.
• Reinforcing animal bite avoidance and rabies pre-exposure education is recommended for personnel deploying to endemic areas.