Snakebite remains one of India’s most overlooked public health emergencies, killing an estimated 50,000 people every year — nearly half of global snakebite deaths — despite being largely preventable with timely medical care.
Delays turn bites into disabilities and deaths
Devendra, a farmer, lost his leg after delaying treatment for four days following a snakebite while working in his fields. His story, featured in a short film by the Global Snakebite Taskforce (GST), reflects a grim reality faced by thousands in rural India.
According to government data and independent studies, India may have recorded as many as 1.2 million snakebite deaths between 2000 and 2019. Rural and tribal communities, especially farm workers, remain the most vulnerable.
Antivenom access and training gaps
A new GST report found that 99% of healthcare workers in India face challenges administering antivenom — the only effective treatment for venomous snakebites. The survey of 900 medical professionals across India, Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria highlighted poor infrastructure, limited antivenom supply and lack of training as major barriers.
Nearly half of the respondents said delays in treatment resulted in amputations, surgeries or permanent disability.
The World Health Organization classifies snakebite envenoming as a “highest priority neglected tropical disease”, noting that it disproportionately affects the poor.
Limits of current antivenom
India’s existing antivenom targets only the “big four” snakes — cobra, krait, Russell’s viper and saw-scaled viper — leaving victims of other species at risk. Research by All India Institute of Medical Sciences has shown poor response rates where snake species are unidentified, underscoring the need for region-specific antivenom.
Progress, but uneven implementation
In 2024, India launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming, aiming to halve deaths by 2030. Experts say the plan is promising but poorly implemented.
Karnataka’s move to declare snakebite a notifiable disease has been widely praised, with calls for other states to follow.
“Snakebite deaths begin where political will ends,” experts warn, stressing that timely treatment can mean the difference between life, death or disability.