The animal bite epidemic in Baltimore, Maryland: review and update.

In 1972 in Baltimore, a peak of 7,436 reported animal bites (8/1,000 population) was reached. The bite rate for the most susceptible age group (5-14) was 19 per 1,000 population. By 1976, only 5,092 bites were reported, 5.8 per 1,000 total population, and 12.3 per 1,000 population 5-14 years of age. The decline in the number and rates of animal bites is believed due in large measure to the actions taken by the Bureau of Animal Control: education and publicity, increased fees and penalties, and enforcement of the new laws and regulations.