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A British academic team recently launched a pilot study in Burujhari, Odisha, India, its primary aim being to decrease the severity of Snakebite Envenoming (SE) related deaths in that area. They plan to investigate potential solutions, such as the creation of an Early Warning System for snakes. The urgency of such initiatives arises from India’s status as the global leader in snakebite-related fatalities, with rural India shouldering the lion’s share of these incidences.
Understanding Snakebite Envenoming
Snakebite Envenoming, or SE, refers to a potentially fatal condition following a venomous snakebite or exposure to venom via other means, such as sprayed venom from certain snake species. The venom is a cocktail of various toxins causing serious health risks, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. The risk is especially acute for individuals in rural or peri-urban communities whose livelihoods depend on agriculture or subsistence activities.
The Impact of Snakebites and SE
Snakebite victims, predominantly from developing countries, often suffer from enduring complications like deformities, contractures, amputations, visual impairment, renal complications, and psychological trauma. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), annual global fatalities due to snakebites range from 81,410 to 137,880.
WHO’s Strategy Against SE
In 2019, WHO introduced a roadmap aiming to reduce death and disability from snakebite by half by 2030. A pivotal part of this vision includes fostering a sustainable market for antivenoms, requiring a 25% increase in competent antivenom manufacturers by 2030. Plans also include a pilot project for creating a global antivenom stockpile, integrating snakebite treatment into national health plans, improving training for healthcare personnel, and boosting community education.
India’s Initiatives Against SE
Even before the WHO roadmap, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been promoting community awareness and enhancing health system capacities since 2013. Aligning with WHO’s Snakebite Envenoming Strategy and the United Nations’ Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, India approved a National Action Plan in 2015 to counter the snakebite menace.
Exploring Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
NTDs are infections primarily affecting marginalized communities in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These diseases are caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms. NTDs usually thrive in tropical areas characterized by poor access to clean water or secure sanitation facilities. Research and treatment funding for NTDs traditionally lags behind that for diseases like tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, and malaria. Snakebite envenomation is considered an NTD, along with other diseases like scabies, yaws, trachoma, Leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.