India in Critical Crisis: Snakebites Claim 50,000 Lives Annually, Urgent Measures Needed

India is experiencing a critical crisis with snake bites claiming approximately 50,000 lives annually, representing almost half of global snake bite fatalities. According to central government data, estimates suggest that between 2000-2019, India may have seen up to 1.2 million snake bite deaths, averaging 58,000 per year. A new report from GST revealed that 99% of medical personnel in India face obstacles in administering anti-venom serum, which is a life-saving antibody used to neutralize snake venom. A research study surveying 904 medical and public health professionals across India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria - countries most impacted by snake bites - found similar challenges including poor infrastructure, limited serum access, and insufficient training. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified snake bite poisoning as a 'highly neglected tropical disease' since 2017, estimating 5.4 million snake bite incidents and over 100,000 deaths worldwide annually. The most affected populations are typically poor rural communities in low and middle-income countries. In 2024, India launched a National Action Plan for Snake Bite Prevention and Control (NAPSE), aiming to reduce fatalities by half by 2030, focusing on improved surveillance, increased serum access, research, medical personnel capacity building, and public awareness campaigns.