Over 64,000 people in India die of snakebites each year : Study

CategoryHealth

Last Updated07/11/2022

A study recently estimated that a vast majority of snakebite deaths globally — up to 64,100 of the 78,600 deaths — occur in India.
Also suggests that the global target of halving the number of deaths and injuries from snakebite by 2030 is unlikely to be met.

Used data from verbal autopsy and vital statistics (civil registration) to estimate snakebite deaths from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.
Before the study, India was considered responsible for up to half of the global deaths due to snakebite.
Current study shows snakebite deaths in India are much higher at almost 80% of the global deaths.

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UP has the highest number of deaths (16,100), followed by MP (up to 5,790 deaths), and Rajasthan (up to 5,230 deaths).
Age-standardised death rate in India
4.0 per 1,00,000
Among the highest globally
Many times over than the global figure of 0.8 deaths per 1,00,000.
Only Somalia has a higher age-standardised death rate than India at 4.5 per 1,00,000.
Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have even higher age-standardised death rates (6.5, 6.0, and 5.8 respectively).

No national strategy to address the burden of snakebite in India.
Preventing snakebite needs more than simple awareness programmes.
Because snakebite is due to snake-human-environment conflict tied to many socio-cultural-religious aspects.
Understanding the conflict and code signing community-based programmes for prevention of snakebites which are tested through community randomised cluster trials are required.
To bring down deaths, strengthening of primary healthcare in India is also required.

No sole focus on snake antivenom availability.
Need for comprehensive strengthening of primary healthcare systems focusing on both access and quality of care
Improving primary health care is important because it is an acute medical emergency.
The global target to halve snakebite deaths by 2030, cannot be attained without action in India.
Global health funders and philanthropists should invest for research and programmes on snakebite in India.

Because snakebite affects the rural poor, a national strategy for snakebite brings in an equity focus which will bring cross benefits for other neglected tropical diseases, which happen in the same communities.