India recorded 1.2 million snakebite deaths in the past two decades
Context:
- India recorded a staggering 1.2 million snakebite deaths in the 20-year period from 2000 to 2019 .
- Study was conducted by the Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR) at the University of Toronto, Canada, with Indian and U.K. partners.
- Around 70% of these deaths occurred in limited, low altitude, rural areas of eight States — Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Finding of the study:
- The numbers for annual snakebite deaths were highest in the States of Uttar Pradesh (8,700), Andhra Pradesh (5,200) and Bihar (4,500).
- Deaths occurred mostly in rural areas (97%), were more common in males (59%) than females (41%).
- Deaths are restricted mainly to lower altitude, intensely agricultural areas, during a single season of each year, this should make the annual epidemics easier to manage.
- Indian anti-venoms neutralise venom from only the spectacled cobra (there are three other Indian cobra species), common krait (there are seven other krait species), Russell’s viper and saw-scaled viper, whereas there are 12 other snake species causing fatal bites in the country.
Note : WHO has mentioned SnakeBite as top –priority neglected tropical disease.
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