Rajasthan launches major snakebite treatment initiative

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Jaipur, Feb 19 (UNI) According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the mortality rate in India due to snakebite is a staggering 50,000 per annum while Australia and US account for just six deaths even as ten most poisonous snakes were found in Australia.

This was disclosed by Dr Ian D Simpson, member of the Snakebite Task Force and WHO Snakebite Treatment Group, while launching a major initiative to address the problem of snakebite here today.

Rajasthan Health Minister Digamber Singh formally launched the initiave here today.

Rajasthan account for about 5,000-6,000 deaths due to snake bite and is the first state to formally launch snakebite treatment initiative in the country.

''The initiave is targetted at providing the best available evidence based treatment methods to doctors. Under the project the doctors will undergo a training programme for treating the snakebite cases in the latest and most effective methods and will also train PHC doctors in handling snakebite cases closer to the scene to reduce mortality,'' Dr Singh said. Currently most victims are transported long distances to peripheral hospitals as doctors are not confident in treating snakebite cases.

Dr P D Tanwar of the S P Medical College Snakebite Research Cell Bikaneer said that ''Researh found that majority of snakebites in the state come from vipers ''Bandi'' which causes local necrosis and bleeding.'' However, in southern part of the state like Udaipur the bites are mainly neurotoxic, which affects the nervous system, resulting in respiratory failure and death.

Two new species of poisonous snakes have also been identified in the state, Dr Tanwar said. As a result the current anti-snake venom (ASV) designed 70 years ago may not be effective.

Plans are underway to develop new ASV against these species under the programme from camel anti-venom, he added. This would be the first anti-snake venom developed in the history of independent India, Dr Tanwar claimed.

UNI

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