Kerala notifies snakebite envenomation as a disease of public health importance

The Government of Kerala has notified snakebite envenomation as a disease of utmost public health importance under Section 28 of the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023. This move enables better documentation, data gathering, research, and data-driven management of snakebite cases across the State.

• Mandatory Reporting: With this notification, all hospitals in Kerala are now required to report snakebite cases on the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) platform.
• Regional Context: Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have also recently declared snakebites as notifiable diseases, reflecting growing regional concern over snakebite-related deaths and disabilities.
• Health Impact:
  • Snakebite envenoming is a life-threatening condition that can cause death or severe permanent disabilities if treatment is delayed.
  • Kerala reported 34 deaths in 2023–24 and 30 deaths in 2024–25 due to snakebites, according to the State Health Department.
  • Although these numbers are lower compared to states like Bihar, where hundreds of deaths occur annually, Kerala views snakebite management as a public health priority.
• Global and National Framework:
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies snakebite envenoming among neglected tropical diseases, often linked to poverty, inequality, and limited healthcare access.
  • In March 2024, the Government of India launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE), aiming to halve snakebite mortality by 2030 through prevention, early treatment, research, and intersectoral coordination.
  • In November 2024, the Centre made snakebite envenomation a notifiable condition nationwide.
• Significance: Kerala’s initiative marks a proactive step in strengthening public health surveillance, improving snakebite management, and aligning with national and global strategies to reduce snakebite-related deaths and disabilities.

(Source: TH)