Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Animal Bite Occurrences in Iran

Background: Large-scale public health emergencies, such as pandemics, can significantly disrupt human behavior and social dynamics. This study aimed to examine how containment measures against COVID-19 may be correlated with animal bite rates. Method: A retrospective analysis of animal bite reports from 2015 to 2022 in Ilam Province, Iran, was conducted. Bite data were compared with confirmed COVID-19 case counts and analyzed for trends relative to the pandemic timeline. Correlation and regression analyses evaluated associations between bite incidents and COVID-19 case rates over time. Results: A total of 7036 animal bites and 122,342 COVID-19 cases were included. A significant negative correlation was observed, with periods of greater viral transmission coinciding with relatively fewer reported bites. Bite occurrences generally increased as restrictions eased, but were highest in 2022 after case rates declined. Logistic regression indicated that bite risk was 69% greater in 2021 than in 2020 during the peak of the pandemic. Conclusion: Reduced mobility and public health restrictions during periods of high COVID-19 activity may have contributed to a lower reported animal bite incidence, and exposure during short-term but prolonged isolation was unsustainable. Balanced long-term strategies promoting responsible ownership through education are warranted. Further studies accounting for underreporting and additional contextual factors are needed, but this analysis provides insights into how animal bite patterns may inversely correlate with large-scale public health events in Iran. Policymakers should promote responsible pet ownership through public education on vaccination, supervision, and bite first aid. Targeted campaigns tailored to periods of increased risk, such as the summer season, could help optimize resource allocation.