Centre declares snakebites 'notifiable disease': Here's what it means

Snakebite is a neglected health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries, including India.

The Union Health Ministry has urged states to make snakebites a “notifiable disease” due to the significant public health burden they pose. Precisely, the move means that all suspected, probable snakebite cases and deaths will be legally required to be reported to the government by both private and public hospitals.

Snakebites are an issue of public health concern and in certain cases, they cause mortality, morbidity, and disability, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said in a letter. The farmers, tribal population, etc. are at higher risk.
To address the issue of snakebite, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has launched the "National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) from India by 2030" in consultation with relevant ministries and stakeholders, Srivastava mentioned.

Why mandate to report cases?

The move comes under the recommendation of the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE), which was launched earlier this year with the aim of halving snakebite deaths by 2030.

Reporting the cases to health authorities will enable better tracking, resource allocation, and response efforts. This move aims to address the underreporting of snakebite cases, improve data collection for effective interventions, and ultimately reduce the high mortality rate associated with these incidents.

The plan has defined strategic components, roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders involved in snakebite management, control and prevention.
"A robust surveillance system is essential for accurately tracking snakebite incidents and deaths, which will provide valuable data to inform and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions," Srivastava said in the letter on November 27.
It will help the stakeholders gauge the accurate burden, high-risk areas, factors responsible for snakebite victims' deaths, etc., resulting in improved clinical management of snakebite victims.

Further, notification of snakebite cases and deaths will also improve reporting from private health facilities, she said.

By making snakebites a notifiable disease, the government can raise public awareness about the dangers of snakebites and promote preventive measures such as wearing protective footwear and avoiding areas where snakes are likely to be found.

What does the data says?

Snakebite is a neglected health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries, including India. While precise, up-to-date nationwide data on snakebite deaths in India is limited, estimates suggest that tens of thousands of people die annually from snakebites.

According to the World Health Organisation, in Asia, up to 2 million people are envenomed by snakes each year, while in Africa there are an estimated 4,35,000 to 5,80,000 snake bites annually that need treatment. “Revised estimates based on verbal autopsies and other data now suggest that as many as 1.2 million Indians died from snakebite envenoming between 2000–2019 (average of 58 000/year),” says WHO.

In ‘The Million Death Study in India’  report too, approximately 1.2 million people died from snakebites between 2000 and 2019, with nearly 58,000 deaths annually. Nearly half of the victims were aged 30-69, and over a quarter were children under 15, with most deaths occurring at home in rural areas. Eight high-burden states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, accounted for 70% of these fatalities.

Is snakebite a ‘disease’?

Snakebite is not just an injury, but a medical condition with the potential to cause significant harm and even death, warranting its classification as a disease.
The venom can destroy tissues and cells around the bite site, leading to pain, swelling, and even tissue death. It can also affect various organs and systems in the body, including the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and blood clotting system. This can lead to symptoms such as paralysis, difficulty breathing, bleeding, and kidney failure. In severe cases, snakebite can be fatal if not treated promptly and appropriately.