On the risk of infection of the population by infectious diseases in the aggressive behavior of animals

Abstract

The statistical data on the account of the cases of injuries of the inhabitants of St. Petersburg during the attack of animals in 2010–2012 (before the implementation of measures to modernize Russian health) and 2012–2014 (after their implementation). For the study, cases of human trauma caused by aggressive behavior of animals registered in the departments of Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare (indicators of monitoring and information bulletins, as well as information on the effectiveness of the measures taken to prevent infections) in St. Petersburg were used for the study. Observations were included both with a safe clinical outcome of this type of trauma, and in cases of verification of infectious complications. It is established that bites of animals of the city’s residents are observed often. Among cases of bitten a high proportion of wounds is noted in children. Despite the fact of bites (mostly by unknown dogs), in every fifth case, victims (even when warning of the danger of these injuries) refuse from rabies vaccination, and half of the victims who seek medical help refuse vaccination against rabies. The latter represents a particular threat inherent in this type of damage, since at present no treatment for this disease has been developed. Information on the frequency and characteristics of the provision of medical care to people affected by the attack of animals, it is advisable to consider systematically, using interdisciplinary approaches. A purposeful study of medical support for people who have been attacked by animals, development and implementation of algorithms for carrying out the affected medical and diagnostic activities in the format of a unified system of medical care is a task whose solution is relevant for medical science and practice.