421,000 bites and 20,000 deaths from snakebites annually.

Snake bites are the cause of many world deaths and injuries, and are a significant public health risk, according to new research published this week in PLoS Medicine.

By the most comprehensive methods, the study estimates that at least 421,000 bites are toxic and 20,000 bites of snakebites occur every year, especially South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

To estimate the rate of snakebite mortality and injury, Janaka de Silva (University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka) and colleagues studied scientific literature, and data on mortality rates by organizations. United Nations holds. They also searched for unpublished information from the Ministry of Health, the National Poisons Center, and snake experts in countries that did not have accurate information on mortality rates and solid cases. bite.

The effort to review this data has given information to many countries, grouped by 21 geographic regions. Researchers estimate about 421,000 bites and 20,000 snake-bite deaths occur worldwide every year. They also warned that this figure could reach 1,841,000 bites and 94,000 bites of death , especially in Africa and South Asia, where antidotes are very limited. India has the highest rate of snake bites and deaths: 81,000 and 11,000.

A recent study showed that there were at least 421,000 bites and 20,000 yearly snakebite deaths.(Photo: iStockphoto)

In a related article, Jean-Philippe Chippaux of the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement in La Paz in La Paz, Bolivia said that the study 'brought pristine crystals, but was a necessary step to bring poison drugs and snake bite treatments to people '. Dr. Chippaux emphasized the situation of a severe shortage of antidote and prices in Africa - "which could be worse before the current global economic crisis - the price of a poison pill equivalent to income in months of most rural families'.

More comprehensive information on current mortality and snakebite injuries may help to calculate the amount of needed antidote and areas to be delivered. Silva and his colleagues conclude that despite their thorough research methods, studies of mortality and snakebite injury still need to be done.

Refer:
1. Kasturiratne A, Wickremasinghe AR, de Silva N, Gunawardena NK, Pathmeswaran A, et al.Estimation của sự xác định Global của Snakebite.PLoS Med, 5 (11): e218 DOI: 10.1371 / journal.pmed.0050218