Mandatory notification as a measure to monitor and prevent "Dog Bite Injuries" in Switzerland
Contact person: Myriam Harisberger
A fatal dog bite incident in 2005 near Zurich raised the awareness for dogs as a hazard to public health among the public and policy makers. Therefore the Swiss government implemented preventive measures, including mandatory notification of injured people or animals by physicians and veterinarians. We conducted an online survey among Swiss physicians and veterinarians. The results of our survey indicate that while severe underreporting of dog bites exists, the most relevant cases for targeted interventions are likely to be notified.
