Source: Hindu

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

The Tamil Nadu government has taken an important step to manage this issue by officially making snakebite envenomation a notifiable disease.

What Does "Notifiable Disease" Mean?

When a disease is made "notifiable," it means that health facilities must report all cases of the disease to the government.

This helps authorities collect data and respond to outbreaks more effectively.

The World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations, 1969 require disease reporting to the WHO in order to help with its global surveillance and advisory role.

The Centre has notified several diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, encephalitis, leprosy, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), plague, tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis, measles, yellow fever, malaria dengue, etc. The onus of notifying any disease and the implementation lies with the state government.

Any failure to report a notifiable disease is a criminal offence and the state government can take necessary actions against defaulters.

What is Snakebite Envenoming?

Snakebite envenoming happens when a venomous snake injects poison (venom) into a person through its bite.

Venom can cause serious health problems, including damage to nerves, blood problems, kidney failure, and tissue damage.

Important Facts

Every year, around 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes worldwide, with about 1.8 to 2.7 million of these cases resulting in venom entering the body.

Between 81,410 and 137,880 people die each year because of snakebites, and many more suffer from permanent disabilities, including loss of limbs.

In Asia up to 2 million people are envenomed by snakes each year, while in Africa there are an estimated 435 000 to 580 000 snake bites annually that need treatment. 

Who is Most Affected?

Snakebites are more common in warmer areas like Africa, Asia, and Latin America, especially in rural areas where people live or work near snakes.

Farmers, children, and people living in areas with poor access to hospitals are most affected. Children may suffer more severely because of their smaller body size.

Effects of Snakebite Envenoming

Paralysis: Venom can stop the muscles from working, which can lead to difficulty breathing.

Venom can prevent blood from clotting, which can lead to dangerous bleeding.

Some venoms affect the kidneys and can cause kidney failure.

Venom can destroy tissue around the bite, leading to the need for amputation (surgical removal of a limb) in severe cases.

Treatment

The best treatment is antivenom, which is a medicine made to neutralize snake venom.

Antivenoms are included in the World Health Organization (WHO) List of Essential Medicines and should be available in areas where snakebites are common.

Challenges with Antivenoms

Making antivenoms is complicated because each type of venom is different, and it’s challenging to produce antivenoms that work for all types of snakes in different regions.

High costs and limited availability make it hard for people in remote areas to get antivenoms.

Some fake or poor-quality antivenoms have been sold, which has made people doubt the effectiveness of antivenom treatment.

WHO’s Goal for Snakebite Envenoming

By 2030, WHO aims to reduce the deaths and disabilities caused by snakebites by 50%. This can be achieved by:

Educating communities on prevention and first aid for snakebites.

Providing safe, affordable antivenoms.

Training healthcare workers to treat snakebites effectively.

Improving partnerships and resources to address snakebite problems.

India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also launched a National Action Plan earlier this year, aiming to reduce snakebite deaths by 50% by 2030.

Sources:

Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.With regard to snakes, consider the following statements: Elapidae family includes snakes with fixed front fangs, such as cobras, mambas, and sea snakes. Viperidae family members, like vipers and rattlesnakes, have hinged front fangs that allow them to inject venom deep into prey. Colubridae family is known for only having non-venomous species and constitutes the largest snake family. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: (a) Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. The Elapidae family includes snakes like cobras, kraits, mambas, and sea snakes, which possess fixed front fangs and primarily use neurotoxic venom, which affects the nervous system. Statement 2 is correct. The Viperidae family, which includes vipers, pit vipers, and rattlesnakes, has long, hinged fangs that fold back in the mouth. This unique structure allows them to deliver venom deeply into their prey. Statement 3 is correct. Although the Colubridae family is the largest family of snakes and includes many non-venomous species, it also includes some venomous species, such as the boomslang and the vine snake. Not all Colubridae members are non-venomous, contrary to common belief.