Health officials in Columbia and Boone County say there has been a significant increase in the rate of reported animal bites.
The Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) has released its 2024 communicable disease report. Animal bites are considered a communicable disease risk due to the potential for rabies. The report says the number of animal bites in Boone County increased by 117, from 288 in 2023 to 405 in 2024.
The report says the increasing number of bites could be attributed to a rise in pet ownership during the pandemic. Health officials are reminding you to always supervise children around pets and to avoid approaching animals you don’t know, especially if they are tied up or roaming freely.
