Animal Bites / Injuries

Clinical Description

The potential for zoonotic (animal-to-human) transmission of disease must be considered in any situation where a person is injured by an animal. Of the approximately 1700 known human pathogens, about 50 percent are zoonotic. Of the 156 emerging pathogens, 73 percent are zoonotic. Of the 14 most likely agents of bioterrorism, 57 percent are zoonotic. In considering the likelihood of disease transmission, many factors must be assessed, such as the species of animal, type of injury, severity of injury, vaccination status of animal and/or human (when applicable), interval between incident and treatment, and various attributes of the injured person (age, underlying health, etc.). Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted by a variety of means such as trauma (bite or scratch), direct contact, arthropod vectors, aerosols, and contamination of food and water. Animal bites are a major mechanism of pathogen conveyance.

Case classification (4)

Confirmed (reportable): “Animal bite wound to human” – only bites from mammals are reportable (all mammal bites are reportable). A “bite wound” is define d as breaking of the skin by the teeth of an animal. In some situations, a physician’s assessment might be needed to determine whether a bite wound exists.

Other traumatic exposures of humans to animals (such as a scratch) could result in disease transmission. Local public health agencies (LPHAs) are encouraged to follow up such cases, as circumstances dictate. While not reportable, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will assist LPHAs in investigating such incidents and in devising prevention/control strategies, at the request of the LPHA.