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.

Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-recorded-12-million-snakebite-deaths-in-the-past-two-decades/article32043389.ece#:~:text=India%20recorded%20a%20staggering%201.2,deaths%20caused%20by%20snakebite%20annually.