Knowledge & Health Journal1735-577X4320091229Animal Bites Epidemiology in Shahroud City414310.1234/knh.v4i3.232FAMohammadAmiriدانشگاه علوم پزشکي شاهرود- دانشکده بهداشت- دکتراي مديريت خدمات بهداشتي درماني. m_amiri_71@yahoo.comAhmadKhosravi20130821Introduction: Rabies is an infectious central nervous system disease that infects all mammals and man. This study aimed at investigating the epidemiology of animal bites in Shahroud.Methods: In this descriptive study, all the data related to animal bite cases in shahroud in 2008-2009 were collected based on the data registration notebooks. Results: A total of 588 cases of animal bite were reported in 2008-2009, the majority of whom (82.1%) were male. Of this total, 35.7% were urban and 64.3% were rural. Just 2 of the cases were foreigners. The incidence rate of animal bite in the city was 159 (27%), compared to 429 cases (73%) in villages. Dogs and cats accounted for about 79.1% and 12.6% of the cases respectively. 12 cases were also wolf, fox and Reynard bites. All cases have completed vaccination. In 82.3% of animal bites, the biter was alive after 10 days and in 2% biters were dead and in 15.6%, the biter reported invisible after 10 days. The incidence rate of animal bites in Shahroud was 246 in one hundred thousand.Conclusions: Animal bites are one of the most important problems of public health. Educational activities along with the promotion of out- organizing cooperation can play a significant role in controlling this problem.