Education Key To Preventing Snakebites

Snake bites pose a serious threat to public health, particularly in rural and agricultural areas of tropical and subtropical nations. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are bitten by venomous snakes each year, and many of them die or suffer permanent physical and psychological harm. However, with the correct mix of community action, infrastructure upgrades, and education, snake bites can be largely avoided. In addition to saving lives, preventing snake bites also protects livelihoods and eases the burden on healthcare systems. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that up to 5.4 million people worldwide are bitten by snakes each year, resulting in up to 2.7 million envenomations and up to 138,000 fatalities.