International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802112016091017291729ENDepartment of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, KhorramabadDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, KhorramabadDepartment of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, KhorramabadDepartment of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, KhorramabadInfectious Diseases Ward, Shahid Madani Hospital, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, KhorramabadDepartment of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad20160910<strong>Background:</strong> Despite the progress made, animal bites and rabies are one of the important<br />health problems in the country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of<br />animal bites and rabies during 2004&ndash;2014 in Lorestan Province to prevent them in population of<br />the province for the future prospective aspects.<br /><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> In a descriptive cross‑sectional study, all those cases bitten in the<br />province, during 2004 and 2014, were studied. The required information about the age, sex,<br />the bitten organ, type of the invasive animal time, and location of the event were collected in<br />questionnaires and then analyzed.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> The total number of cases of animal rabies during the period of study was 43,892,<br />shown at the rate of 223.23 in 100,000 people. Seventy‑eight percent of animal bites in rural<br />areas, 41.42% in the ages 10&ndash;29‑year‑old, 26.8% of cases were students, 56.77% leg bites, and<br />82.5% of dog bites. Four cases of human rabies were observed during this period.<br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Rate of animal bites and rabies is high in Lorestan Province. Controlling animals<br />such as dogs and cats in the province through training people at risk, especially among the<br />students, rural areas and inter‑sectorial coordination to eliminate stray animals should be<br />considered over and over. Preventive actions to avoid bites are a priority.<br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Animal bites, epidemiology, Iran, Lorestan, rabieshttp://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1729http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1729/2018