BENGALURU: The state authorities declared that snake chew is a notifiable illness. This will assist the federal government, particularly the well being division, know the precise variety of snake chew circumstances. From now, each snake chew case handled at a authorities or non-public hospital must be recorded. Officials stated this can even assist know the precise variety of anti-venom vials wanted and the districts that want most consideration.
Experts stated Karnataka is fifth within the nation to report a lot of snake chew circumstances after Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Maharashtra. It is the primary within the nation to declare snake chew a notifiable illness.
Last yr, the state recorded round 6,500 circumstances. Officials, nevertheless, admitted that round 50% of circumstances wouldn’t have been reported.
As per the state authorities data, from October 2023 to February 2024, the state reported 2,620 snake chew circumstances and eight deaths. Government hospitals throughout the state have a complete of 12,922 anti-venom vials. The anti-venoms available can be utilized for all snake bites, together with spectacled cobra, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled vipers and customary crate.
Sumanth Bindumadhav, director of wildlife safety, Humane Society International/India, stated, “The Karnataka government’s move steps up surveillance at the state level to better inform policy decisions on prevention, treatment and management of snake bites. This could enthus other states to follow suit.”
HSI/India and The Liana Trust have been working with the state forest and well being departments for a couple of yr. This can even assist in figuring out the development/ seasons when the snake chew circumstances rise. This will assist in higher planning for prevention.
