Deaths caused by being bitten or attacked by a dog appear to be increasing, according to data released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today. Overall, the number of deaths caused by dogs across the country is very low, with fewer than 50 deaths per year on average, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Canine bites are common, but data suggests fewer than 1% will result in a hospital admission.
However, between 2011 and 2018, the number of deaths caused by being bitten or struck by a dog hovered around 20, with higher death rates for males versus females depending on the year. But between 2018 and 2021, deaths more than doubled among both sexes, the CDC reported.
