Snakebite Envenoming

About Snakebite Envenoming: 

• It is a life-threatening medical condition caused by venomous snake bites.
• It is a major health concern in rural and snake-endemic regions.
• It poses a risk to vulnerable populations, including agricultural workers, children, and those living in tropical and subtropical areas. 
• Snake antivenoms are effective treatments to prevent or reverse most of the harmful effects of snakebite envenoming and are included in the WHO list of essential medicines.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised snakebite as a global public health issue and launched a strategy to reduce snakebite-induced deaths and disabilities worldwide.
• India’s Action plan
  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare earlier this year published the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming.
  • The plan aims to halve snakebite deaths by 2030 through a ‘One Health’ approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health interventions.
• Advantages of notifiable disease
  • By making snakebite a notifiable disease, the Tamil Nadu government aims to improve the collection of vital data, strengthen clinical infrastructure, and ensure the efficient distribution of anti-snake venom.
  • This move is expected to lead to better prevention strategies, reduce mortality rates, and enhance treatment facilities across the state.
  • Under the new directive, both government and private hospitals are now required to report cases of snakebites and related fatalities to the government.
  • This mandatory reporting system will be integrated with the State’s Integrated Health Information Platform under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program. 

Q1: What is the World Health Organization (WHO)?

The WHO, established in 1948, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.

Source: Tamil Nadu declares snakebite envenoming a notifiable disease