Citation

Marsh L, Langley JD, Gauld R. N. Zeal. Med. J. 2004; 117(1201): U1043.

Affiliation

Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, Dunedin, New Zealand. email: John.Langley@ipru.otago.ac.nz.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, New Zealand Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15476003

Abstract

AIMS: To describe the extent of the dog bite problem in New Zealand for the period 1989 to 2001. METHODS: Fatalities and cases requiring public-hospital treatment identified from the New Zealand Health Information Service databases. RESULTS: There was one fatality and 3119 hospitalisations, an average of 240 per year. Those most at risk were males and children under 9 years of age. The incidence rate of dog bites has continued to increase from that reported previously. There has been a increase in recent years but it is difficult to determine whether this is real effect or an artefact of coding. CONCLUSIONS: Dog bite injuries represent a significant public health problem in New Zealand. Ongoing monitoring is required to determine if dog control policies are having the intended effect.