Deaths resulting from animal attacks in the United States

Abstract

The objective of this study was to elucidate the etiology and frequency of deaths in the United States from encounters with animals. The number of deaths from venomous and nonvenomous animals is reported annually to the US Department of Health and Human Services and published in Vital Statistics of the United States. This study is a survey of all animal-related fatalities listed as E-codes 905-906 reported in the Vital Statistics of the United States from 1979 through 1990. Data were extracted uniformly from the annual reports and analyzed using descriptive statistics. From 1979 through 1990, there were 1882 animal-related deaths in the United States. Venomous animals caused 718 deaths; nonvenomous animals caused 1164 deaths. Most deaths occurred among white males. The home site was the location of injury for the majority of deaths. The majority of venomous animal-related deaths were from hymenoptera; "other specified animal" caused the majority of nonvenomous deaths. An annual average of 157 deaths from animal attacks occurred in the United States between 1979 and 1990. Both fatal and nonfatal animal-related injuries are under-recognized public health hazards. Health care providers should educate their patients on exercising caution around animals, seeking medical care after an animal injury, carrying epinephrine kits if they have a history of systemic reactions to insect stings, and wearing helmets and other protective equipment when riding or working around large animals.

Molecular basis of cardiotoxicity upon cobra envenomation

“…Approximately 30 % of the 3000 species of snakes in the world are venomous and considered to be dangerous to humans [2]. In the United States, there are approximately 7000 -8000 venomous snakebites annually [3]. Venomous snakebite incidents are much higher in Australia, home for some of the failure and death [9].…”

“…Venomous snakebite incidents are much higher in Australia, home for some of the failure and death [9]. Indeed, liver and kidney tissues have been shown, histologically, to be damaged by sublethal doses of cobra venom administered intramuscularly in rabbits [10,11], whilst neurotoxicity is a hallmark of most elapid and hydrophid envenomation [3]. Respiratory insuffiency, neurotoxicity or renal failure had been reported immediately upon cobra envenomation [12].…”

An isolated femoral vein injury caused by bull horn

“…[7] Although their rate is low compared to other usual penetrating injuries, they tend to be severe. [8] People whose occupation is animal husbandry may be the target of such an attack and may be severely injured or killed while tending to large animals. [3] Apart from the farmers, other people who work with the animals including veterinarians, butchers, workers in zoos and circuses are all at high risk of bull gore.…”

Are animal-related injuries in rural areas a social problem? A survey from Poland

“…Most animal-related injuries were not severe and patients with such traumas usually did not seek medical help; therefore, these cases were not recorded in the statistics [16][17][18]. This fact also explains the very low percentage of patients with animal-related injuries in the total number of trauma patients.…”