Cat Bites in Southern Mexico: Epidemiological Patterns and One Health Perspective

There is currently limited epidemiological information about cat aggressions in Mexico. We analyzed the data of cat attacks on humans recorded between 2018 and 2023 in people attending health services in the state of Yucatan. A retrospective study was performed based on a database provided by the Yucatan Ministry of Health (SSY), which included reports of animal bites to people. Sociodemographic variables and event characteristics were selected and standardized for analysis. A total of 699 cat attacks were recorded out of 8845 animal bite reports (7.9%) during the studied period. The municipality of Merida had a higher number of reports than the rest of the municipalities in the state (p < 0.001). The majority of those attacked were women and adults. The median age of the attacked women was significantly higher than that of men (35 vs. 30 years; p < 0.001). The upper extremity was the most frequently affected anatomical area. Cat aggressions in Yucatan have shown an increasing trend, primarily affecting adult women with low post-exposure prophylactic rabies vaccination in cats. These findings are important for the development of future preventive and epidemiological surveillance strategies within the framework of the "One Health" approach.