DEATHS RESULTING FROM ANIMAL ATTACKS IN THE UNITED-STATES

The objective of this study was to elucidate the etiology and frequenc y of deaths in the United States from encounters with animals. The num ber of deaths from venomous and nonvenomous animals is reported annual ly 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 a nimal-related fatalities listed as E-codes 905-906 reported in the Vit al Statistics of the United States from 1979 through 1990. Data were e xtracted uniformly from the annual reports and analyzed using descript ive statistics. From 1979 through 1990, there were 1882 animal-related deaths in the United States. Venomous animals caused 718 deaths; nonv enomous animals caused 1164 deaths. Most deaths occurred among white m ales. The home site was the location of injury for the majority of dea ths. The majority of venomous animal-related deaths were from hymenopt era; ''other specified animal'' caused the majority of nonvenomous dea ths. An annual average of 157 deaths from animal attacks occurred in t he United States between 1979 and 1990. Both fatal and nonfatal animal -related injuries are under-recognized public health hazards. Health c are providers should educate their patients on exercising caution arou nd animals, seeking medical care after an animal injury, carrying epin ephrine kits if they have a history of systemic reactions to insect st ings, and wearing helmets and other protective equipment when riding o r working around large animals.