BHUBANESWAR: Worried over increasing number of snakebite cases
Odisha government on Wednesday decided to prepare an action plan to contain huge number of
deaths occurring in the state due to snakebite.
As many as 1716 people have lost their lives due to snakebite during the last 3 years 2015-16 to 2017-18. While 446 people died due to snakebite in 2015-16, the snakebite death in 2016-17 and 2017-18 remained 574 and 696 respectively. Number of casualties due to snakebite, highest among all disasters, accounts for about 37% of total disaster deaths (4689) during the period. A total 11,001 persons were admitted to different hospitals in the state during the year 2017-18, official sources said.
In the meeting chaired by chief secretary A P Padhi it has been decided that all snakebite victims must be brought to nearest health institution at the earliest for medical examination and administering Anti-Snake Venom (
ASV), if required to save their lives. They must not avail treatment by quacks. This message has to be widely circulated through intensive awareness programmes. OUAT shall take steps to sensitize the farmers during farmers’ trainings. Special attention shall be given to districts and blocks where more number of snakebite deaths have occurred. Dos and Don’ts during snakebites should be circulated among the public. Sufficient quantity of anti-venom must be kept in all hospitals.
(Representative image)