SNAKEBITE AWARENESS: TIMELY & SWIFT ACTION SAVES LIVES
"SAANP KA VAAR, ASPATAL MEIN HI UPCHAR!"
The onset of monsoons calls for caution from snakes. Snakebites are expected to rise, especially in those areas that are filled with a dense natural environment, mostly in the hilly and rural parts of India. Snakebites remain a major public health problem in India.
THE REALITY OF SNAKEBITES GLOBALLY AND IN INDIA
World Health Organization data points out that nearly 4.5-5.4 million people are bitten by snakes annually worldwide, with between 1.8-2.7 million cases resulting in envenomation.
India bears the heaviest burden globally. Research shows that India had 1.2 million snakebite deaths from 2000-2019, representing an average of 58,000 deaths per year. India accounts for approximately half of global snakebite deaths. The problem is severely underreported - Government of India's official snakebite death reports captured only one-tenth of actual deaths detected during the same period, given only 20-30% of snakebite victims in rural India seek hospital treatment. The lifetime risk of dying from snakebite in India is about 1 in 250, but reaches 1 in 100 in some high-risk areas. Nearly half of victims are aged 30-69 years, with over 25% being children under 15. About 70% of deaths occur in eight high-burden states during monsoon season.
In India, around 90% of snakebites are caused by the 'Big Four' snakes: Common Krait, Indian Cobra, Russell's Viper, and Saw Scaled Viper.
IMMEDIATE DO'S AND DON'TS
Snake bite envenomation can cause severe multi-organ or multi-system damage, such as haemorrhage, paralysis, tissue necrosis, muscle breakdown, cardiotoxicity, acute kidney injury, hypovolemic shock, and death.
The immediate task is to take the snakebite victim to a local hospital for treatment. The best way to treat a venomous snakebite is administering quality antivenom. A high-quality antivenom provides the best available treatment that can help prevent many deaths and reduce the severity of serious disabilities that impact thousands of victims. Good quality antivenom is designed and manufactured to meet the clinical needs of the populations at risk and are safe and effective for extensive use in our collective fight against snakebite deaths.
Most snakebite cases are recorded in rural areas. Over half of all snakebites occur in 30-50-year-old farmers and in 60-80% of cases involve ankles and feet. Dependence on non-mechanised, low-cost farming techniques and barefoot farming practices place farmers at an increased risk of bites on the extremities. Also, poor housing conditions and inadequate lighting provide easy access to snakes into living spaces as they are not easily spotted.
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Reports suggest that inadequate first aid, delayed treatment access, and suboptimal treatment contribute to poor outcomes. Further many individuals end up trying homemade remedies or local tricks and healers like Ojhas, etc which can cause further complications.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
In November 2024, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare designated snakebite as a 'notifiable disease', making it mandatory for all government and private health facilities (including medical colleges) to report all suspected, probable snakebites. This addresses the severe underreporting issue and will lead to better collection of data which can be utilised for comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies for snake bites across India.
The fight against snakebite deaths, which are highly preventable, is a matter of awareness and access. The World Health Organization included snakebite envenoming as a priority neglected tropical disease in 2017 and launched a strategy in 2019 aiming to halve snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030. The National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) provides a broad framework for states to develop their own action plan for management, prevention and control of snakebites through the 'One Health' approach, focusing on improved access to quality anti-venom, enhanced medical care infrastructure, community engagement and education programmes, and better surveillance systems.
PREVENTION TIPS
What to do in case of a snakebite:
- ● Stay calm and restrict movements so that blood mixed with the venom doesn't flow to heart
- ● Take off any jewellery you might have on and tight clothing to avoid problems with swelling
- ● Keep the area of the bite below the heart to keep venom from spreading
- ● Position the patient on their left side with right leg bent and face supported by hand
- ● Rush immediately to the nearest hospital or health centre
What not to do:
- ● Don't wash the wound
- ● Don't tightly wrap the site of the bite
- ● Don't apply a tourniquet or cold compress to a bite
- ● Don't cut across the area of the bite or try to suck the venom out
- ● Don't consume alcohol or anything with caffeine
- ● Do not self-medicate even if you experience pain
- ● Don't panic or let the victim overexert
- ● Don't attack the snake
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Don't use indigenous treatment or any unsafe home remediesWear protective footwear when working in fields. Use adequate lighting in living spaces. Keep surroundings clean to avoid attracting snakes. Be cautious during monsoon season when snake activity increases.
REMEMBER: Time is critical in snakebite cases. Every minute counts between life and death. Don't waste precious time on ineffective traditional treatments - rush to the nearest hospital immediately.
SAANP KA VAAR, ASPATAL MEIN HI UPCHAR!
Let us treat snakebites in the right manner - Rush to the nearest medical facility to receive the right treatment.
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Issued in public interest by Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited and Mankind Pharma Limited
