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Whether you run in the park or around town, chances are you've come across a dog or two during your miles. And while some are friendly, leashed, and only want to play with you, others can cause panic as you wonder if you're going to be attacked.

For one 63-year-old female, that nightmare came true last week. The unidentified woman was found dead, mauled during her morning run in Littlerock, CA. Police quickly seized eight dogs that were identified by an eyewitness as the attackers, though DNA tests need to be run to verify if the dogs were the killers.

Unfortunately stories of runners being confronted by dogs are becoming more common as irresponsible owners dump their unwanted pets or improperly restrain them. But you don't need to stop your workout to stay safe. Roo Yori, a dog trainer who specializes in pit bull rehabilitation and the proud owner of the famous and beloved therapy pit bulls Wallace and Hector, offers advice on how to deal with an unknown or aggressive dog.

1. Don't run. Tough advice for a runner, but Roo explains that while your natural instinct may be to flee, you need to fight that. "Unless you know for sure you can get behind a barrier of some sort that will separate you from the dog, running away or screaming is most likely going to make the situation worse. Chances are, you're not going to out-run a dog, and the act of running will probably activate the chase instinct present in all dogs."

2. Freeze. Most of the time, the best thing is become motionless, Roo says. So think of making your body like a post and fold your arms across your chest. "If you're boring and don't engage the dog, it will most likely sniff your leg and move on," Roo says. "Wait until the dog is a good distance from you, and move quietly to a safe area."

3. Be a rock. If the dog still attacks you and manages to knock you over, Roo says to curl up and cover your head, like the tornado drills you did in school, pulling your face down into your chest and covering your neck with your hands. He reiterates that if you're boring, the dog is much more likely to simply leave you alone.

4. Take precautions. If you're particularly concerned, you can carry a canister of pepper spray or mace with you, and Roo adds that there are citronella versions that also work well. But the best prevention is to know your route. Avoid any areas where owners allow their dogs to roam, and if you're trying a new path, drive it a few times first to see if you notice anything unsafe, canine-related or otherwise. Then simply stay aware while running. "If you notice an unknown dog ahead of you that you're not comfortable with, the sooner you stop and keep your distance-without running away-the better chance you'll have at avoiding an encounter," Roo says.

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It was reported that cases detected in Japan indicated a new strain of gonorrhoea, with the American National Coalition of STD Directors claiming it was “an emergency situation”.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention denied reports that any new strain of gonorrhoea was detected.

The bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae has become increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Professor Cathy Ison, head of the National Reference Laboratory for Gonorrhoea in Britain, told the BBC last month that “there is a possibility that if we don’t do something then it could become untreatable by 2015”.

Dr Derek Freedman — who founded of the Society for the Study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Ireland and is a founding member of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology — said the “overuse” and “inappropriate use” of antibiotics was behind the current health scare: “Gonorrhoea has become resistant to a lot of the antibiotics previously used.

“There is now only one antibiotic that is fully effective against gonorrhoea. It is given by injection.

“There is definitely [a] need to be worried about the development of antibiotic resistance: if antibiotic overuse and misuse continues, we will be left with nothing to treat these simple infections.

“We are seeing an emerging epidemic of gonorrhoea in this country, especially with men having sex with men, but there are a lot of heterosexual cases as well. Girls carry it silently.”

Dr Freedman said gonorrhoea in the throat or back passage typically remained “completely silent” and may not be detected through a urine screening test. He said blood tests should be part of all STD screening.

“There is always a need for awareness of STIs. The main risk factor is casual encounters, particularly men who have sex with men. Alcohol is usually a co-factor: it inhibits the inhibitions.”

He said overindulgence in alcohol had played a “significant role” in between 60% and 70% of cases seen in both private and public practice.

Dr Freedman said his practice in Dublin could see up to three cases of gonorrhoea a week. He is also attached to a clinic in St James’s Hospital, where five to 10 people a week present with gonorrhoea: “The most important thing is when people take a sexual risk they go and get fully and comprehensively sexually screened.”

In a report published on May 1, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre here said there had been 409 detections of gonorrhoea in the first 16 weeks of this year, and 48 in the last week for which figures were compiled.

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