Kerala Declares Snakebite Envenomation Public Health Priority
On October 10, Kerala declared snakebite envenomation a disease of public health importance under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023. This aligns with the Centre’s directive to implement the 2024 National Action Plan for Snakebite Envenoming, aiming to halve snakebite-related deaths in India by 2030. Over 64,000 of the nearly 78,600 global snakebite deaths occur in India annually. The declaration will enhance tracking of snakebite cases and improve hospital readiness. Kerala has reported nearly 5,000 snakebite cases each year, with 123 deaths recorded in 2018-19. The state has launched initiatives like the SARPA app to connect people with trained rescuers and provide first-aid information. Despite progress, challenges remain, particularly with the rise of the hump-nosed pit viper, necessitating the development of region-specific antivenoms.
Published 13 days ago • 22 Nov 2025, 06:06 AM IST