Devendra’s Story and the Scale of the Crisis

Devendra, a farmer in India, vividly recalls the moment a snake bit his leg while he was picking mulberry leaves.

"I went to the hospital four days after I was bitten, when the pain became unbearable. But the delay cost me my leg,"

he says in a short film released by the Global Snakebite Taskforce (GST), an initiative dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by snakebites.

Despite his severe injury, Devendra is among the fortunate survivors. The federal government estimates that approximately 50,000 Indians die from snakebites annually, accounting for about half of all snakebite deaths worldwide. Some studies suggest the numbers may be even higher; a 2020 study estimated that between 2000 and 2019, India experienced as many as 1.2 million deaths due to snakebites, averaging 58,000 deaths per year.

Healthcare Challenges in Treating Snakebites

A recent report by GST revealed that 99% of healthcare workers in India encounter difficulties administering antivenom, the critical treatment that neutralizes venom toxins. The study surveyed 904 medical professionals across India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria—countries most affected by snakebites—and identified common barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, limited antivenom access, and insufficient training.

Nearly half of these professionals reported that treatment delays resulted in severe complications for patients, including amputations, surgeries, or permanent mobility impairments.

Global Recognition and Impact

In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified snakebite envenoming as a "highest priority neglected tropical disease" due to its significant mortality rate. WHO estimates that 5.4 million people worldwide suffer snakebites each year, with over 100,000 fatalities annually.

WHO also highlights that snakebites disproportionately affect impoverished rural communities in low- and middle-income countries.

Regional Vulnerability in India

India’s central and eastern regions report a high concentration of snakebite deaths and injuries. Dr. Yogesh Jain, a GST member and medical practitioner in Chhattisgarh state, notes that farm workers, particularly from poor tribal communities, are the most vulnerable.

In 2024, India launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE), aiming to reduce snakebite deaths by 50% by 2030. The plan emphasizes enhanced surveillance, improved antivenom availability and research, strengthened medical capacity, and public awareness campaigns.

Experts acknowledge this as a positive step but point out inconsistent implementation.

Social Perceptions and Urgency of Treatment

"In India, snakebites are seen as a poor person's problem,"

Jain explains.

"That's why there isn't enough outrage or action over these completely avoidable deaths. When it comes to treating snakebites, every second counts."

He elaborates that snake venom rapidly enters the bloodstream, attacking nerves, cells, or the circulatory system depending on the species. Delays in administering antivenom can lead to respiratory failure, paralysis, irreversible tissue damage, or organ failure.

However, in rural India, delays in hospitalisation are common due to poor roads, distant hospitals, and a lack of ambulance services, which hinder timely treatment.

For instance, in September last year, a pregnant woman in Gujarat state reportedly died en route to a hospital after her family carried her in a cloth sling for 5 km (3 miles) because no vehicle could reach their remote hamlet.

Efforts to Improve Access and Training

Some states are attempting to improve access by stocking antivenom in primary and community health centres. However, correct administration remains a significant challenge.

Many health workers lack professional training and fear administering antivenom due to potential adverse reactions.

"The antivenom is mixed with saline and injected intravenously over an hour, but many centres aren't equipped to manage the side-effects,"

Jain says.

Additionally, many rural Indians still rely on faith healers or traditional medicinal practices, often seeking hospital care only when symptoms worsen, which can be fatal.

Limitations of Current Antivenom and Research Needs

Gerry Martin, co-founder of The Liana Trust, which works to reduce human-snake conflicts in Karnataka state, identifies another major obstacle: the availability of high-quality antivenom.

Currently, India’s antivenom targets only the "big four" snakes—the spectacled cobra, common krait, Russell's viper, and saw-scaled viper—believed responsible for most bites. The antivenom is produced by injecting venom from these snakes into horses, whose ant...