Why India has more snake bites and deaths
By vanny
@vandana7 (100585)
India
August 23, 2021 10:05pm CST
According to WHO approximately 81000 to 138000 persons die per year of snake bites. That was the statement in 2019.
Majority ..belong to India.
But there are reasons for it...
a. India mostly grows rice. Rice requires people to be in those fields in water during monsoons (rainy season). Snakes come out in that season because their pits get filled with water.
b. Most of the farmers can ill afford to buy the gum boots.
c. India has a large population. Therefore, the ratio of cases versus the population is pretty benign. In 2018, Indian population was about 132560000000, and the number of cases as recorded (which can be understatement) was 164031.
d. India lacks enough facilities. Most of the medical facilities are located in cities. The facilities in villages are ill equipped. Snake bites mostly occur in villages. Consider this. It takes 45 minutes for a person bitten by King Cobra to die even though the poison injected in one bite is sufficient to kill anywhere between 25 to 45 people. But can we reach a hospital by then, and will the hospital have corresponding anti-venom? I think not. We cannot even send the anti venom across in time in flight.
e. Ignorance... unwillingness to leave the old fashioned attitude. Neurotoxins that the snakes inject, may cause some serious damage. That leads to isolation of the family, which in turn forces them to professions like becoming snake charmers. Obviously, incidences will be more among them. In general, snakes are revered. So if a snake bites, it is considered gods do not like the person and he or she is bad for the society. Imagine!
f. Low priority. Unlike crimes, there is nothing a medical professional or policeman can do about the deaths. There is, therefore, a sense of indifference towards recording such deaths. If we consider that cost of each life in the country is almost 10000 to 12500 USD, we might feel obliged to sit up and take care of our resources.
As you can see, most of the issues can be addressed. If addressed, India may not be as scary in terms of snake bites when compared to other nations.
This post was inspired by Greg @xander6464.
Registries only count snakebites if victims go to a hospital.
19 people like this
17 responses
@CuriousGab (3292)
• India
24 Aug 21
Yes villages have more snakes.
As there are rats in the field feeding on the crops,the snakes come behind them.
As there are many preys available in village and the snakes are found more.
Snakes are very common in my place every now and then we see a snake ...a day before yesterday I saw one..but we also have many mongoose here
But the snake bite cases are very low...noone in my area have ever been bitten by snake..I myself have encountered snakes 4,5 times when I was alone and very close to them but if we don't disturb them they don't do anything.
But the snake bite cases are very low...noone in my area have ever been bitten by snake..I myself have encountered snakes 4,5 times when I was alone and very close to them but if we don't disturb them they don't do anything.5 people like this
@FaruMesh (3508)
• India
24 Aug 21
@CuriousGab Snakes might be frightened of your tongue.. They are far more dangerous than their bite.... 
Sorry Vanny Mam I have to write this in your discussion...
Sorry Vanny Mam I have to write this in your discussion... 4 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41290)
• Delhi, India
24 Aug 21
I didn't know this.
Yes in cities snakes are rarely seen. I have never seen a snake here in Delhi except in the zoo. If you see the link sent by @Vikingswest1 rate of deaths in India is low if considered to other countries.
5 people like this
@vandana7 (100585)
• India
24 Aug 21
No...the @Vikingswest11 link state top five countries with most deaths by snakebites.
It means deaths with snakebites is lower in other countries. Only those five are top rankers. Our number is lowest among top rankers.
3 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
25 Aug 21
@sjvg1976
In total deaths but per 100k citizens, India is not at the top.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
24 Aug 21
You are absolutly right. Any number has to bee placed in context.
3 people like this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
25 Aug 21
@vandana7 I don´t know if any country has the posibility of having anti-venoms in enough quantity for the whole population. We have used the land that belonged to wild life annd they have to defend themselves from us. n my city, only 40 years ago, where I live was part of the Andes mountains. I remember that the first day of lockdown a young mountain lion was seen near my daughter´s block. It came down as there were no sounds from cars.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100585)
• India
25 Aug 21
@marguicha It is not necessary to have enough anti venoms. It is necessary to know the kinda snakes that are found around the village, and have enough anti venom for those for .002 percent of the population. Snakes are not gonna have festival killing everybody at once. As soon as one of the vials is used up, re-order so that there is always one spare at any point of time.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100585)
• India
25 Aug 21
Exactly. City dwellers rarely get bitten, and deaths from snake bites in cities are considerably lower when compared to what happens in rural areas. That is professional hazard for rice farmers. But what cannot be condoned is the ignorance and lack of required medical facilities.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
24 Aug 21
I have not seen any snakes in my city ...
sad to know about so many deaths in India ..due to snake bites..
Meanwhile ..i read it somewhere on mylot yesterday that " Vanny is now prime Minister of India"..when did this happen...
4 people like this
@vandana7 (100585)
• India
26 Aug 21
@xander6464 You put blondes to shame with your intellect...get back to being dumb.
1 person likes this
When intelligent folks say that...they are laughing at me.@xander6464 (44408)
• Wapello, Iowa
25 Aug 21
@vandana7 It's a good thing I'm blonde. You don't have to worry about smartness from me.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
24 Aug 21
If you calculate deaths per 100k, India ranks low.
Snake bite deaths are a much bigger problem in other countries.
I found a list. It puts things into perspective.
4 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
24 Aug 21
@myklj999
I went with the first hit. It was so low, I figured I could only be off by a few if it wasn't accurate 
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100585)
• India
25 Aug 21
@myklj999 Do you all grow rice? May be the habitat....and food habits of the snakes at your end. Because there are large open grounds at your end...with plenty of trees and other food for snakes, they may not be so much in fields. We are overpopulated. They do go to fields for getting food...because rats go there...and it is not surprising to find them close to home because rats do come to homes in search of food. Especially in ground floor living units.
1 person likes this
@psanasangma (7280)
• India
24 Aug 21
This is concerning ! "God does not like the person" things really gives me headache besides, many villagers does not take hospital seriously unless they are seriously sick. Even in my place, farmers prefer to work on barefoot, never seen them using boots.
3 people like this
@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
24 Aug 21
I lived in Manitoba, a province in Canada for a few years and I saw snakes way too much when we first moved there... and then they pretty much stayed out of my way for some reason. I don't know if we spent so much time outside that they moved on... At least that is what I told myself. Maybe I scared them lol...
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181498)
• United States
24 Aug 21
Interesting. Yes, compared to India's population, the snake bite deaths seem low.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100585)
• India
27 Aug 21
@Anqaya I hope you understand Hindi
A primary health centre is the first step to access basic healthcare facilities in rural India. In the second wave of the pandemic that has hit villages, the importance of these centres has multiplied manifold. But, a number of these centres are dilapidate
@popciclecold (39475)
• United States
25 Aug 21
Wow, that is really scary, and a lot of people.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182092)
• United States
25 Aug 21
Thanks for shedding some light (not your skin) on this discussion.....Just kidding.
..Just kidding.1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182092)
• United States
26 Aug 21
@vandana7 Snake bites would be the last thing I would think of when visiting India actually. No plans to go there though.
1 person likes this
