A Snakebite That Sparked a Change

Context:

• Kerala declared snakebite envenomation a disease of public health importance on October 10, 2025, joining Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

• The decision aligns with the National Action Plan for Snakebite Envenoming, which targets a 50% reduction in snakebite deaths by 2030, and reflects a shift from treating snakebites as isolated incidents to a systemic public health challenge.

Key Highlights:

Government Initiative / Policy Details

• Inclusion of snakebite envenomation under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023 enables:

  • Mandatory case reporting and tracking

  • Improved resource allocation and surveillance

• Policy focus on prevention, early response, and treatment access.

Technology & Community-Based Intervention

• SARPA (Snake Awareness, Rescue, and Protection App) launched in August 2020:

  • Connects citizens with trained snake rescuers

  • Provides first-aid guidance and promotes scientific rescue methods

• Outcomes:

  • Snakebite deaths reduced from 123 (2018–19) to 34 (2024–25)

  • Nearly 58,000 snakes rescued and safely released

Public Health & Infrastructure Measures

• Triggered by tragic incidents such as Shehala Sherin’s death (2019) in a school, leading to:

  • Infrastructure upgrades

  • Safety guidelines in educational institutions

• Emphasis on pre-hospital care, ambulance services, and early referral.

Epidemiological & Environmental Factors

• Kerala reports about 5,000 snakebite cases annually, driven by:

  • Dense forests and wetlands

  • High population density

• Changing patterns:

  • Rise in hump-nosed pit viper bites linked to agricultural shifts

  • Existing anti-snake venom (ASV) less effective against this species

ASV Access & Innovation

• Plan to locally produce ASV to address:

  • Geographical variation in venom potency

  • Limited efficacy of current polyvalent antivenoms

• Challenges include clinical hesitancy in ASV administration and training gaps.

Social & Legal Dimensions

• The Sooraj Kumar case (2020), involving murder using a cobra, exposed illegal wildlife trade risks.

• Lifestyle changes (e.g., elimination of open defecation, mechanised farming) have reduced human–snake encounters.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue: High morbidity and mortality due to snakebite envenomation.

• Causes:

  • Ecological overlap between humans and snakes

  • Delayed treatment and limited ASV effectiveness

• Government Initiatives:

  • National Action Plan for Snakebite Envenoming

  • SARPA mobile application

• Benefits:

  • Improved surveillance and rapid response

  • Reduced mortality

• Challenges:

  • Species-specific venom variation

  • Pre-hospital care gaps

• Impact:

  • Stronger public health response and community awareness

Relevant Mains Points:

• Definitions & Concepts:

  • Snakebite Envenomation: Venom injection causing systemic poisoning

  • ASV (Anti-Snake Venom): Antibody-based treatment for envenomation

  • Epidemiological Insights: Patterns and determinants of snakebite incidence

• Governance & Social Justice Dimension:

  • Recognising snakebite as a public health issue improves equitable access to care, especially for rural and tribal populations.

• Environment & Health Linkage:

  • Biodiversity, land-use change, and climate influence snakebite patterns.

• Way Forward:

  • Scale state-level surveillance systems nationwide

  • Invest in species-specific and region-specific ASV

  • Strengthen training for clinicians and first responders

  • Expand community education and digital tools like SARPA

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS 2: Governance, Public Health Policy, Social Justice

• GS 3: Environment & Ecology, Health Systems

• Prelims: Snakebite envenomation, ASV, Public Health Acts