Snakebite

Please add Geni profiles of those who died by snakebite.

From Venom experts say global snake bite death tolls 'grossly underestimated Reuters, Lifestyle | Wed Sep 30, 2015 2:08pm EDT

In a joint statement after a five-day conference in Britain, the international experts said snake bites kill more people than all other so-called Neglected Tropical Diseases combined, yet get little attention or funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO) or from governments.

Citing new evidence from a study in India and Bangladesh, the experts said around 46,000 people died annually of snake bites in India, plus another 6,000 in Bangladesh. The WHO estimates the annual death toll in India from snake bites is 10,000.

"Snake bite ... is almost completely ignored and grossly underestimated," said Alan Harvey, head of the International Society of Toxinology, who led the meeting.

"WHO and governments need to ... rank snake bite where it belongs -- as a very real public health and medical concern which needs funding, training and focus."

Bites from snakes such as cobras, mambas and vipers mainly affect people living in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia with scant health facilities nearby.

Antivenom treatment can cost between $250 and $500, the experts said, meaning many victims either seek no treatment at all or go to local witch doctors or herbalists.

resources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_snake_bites_in_the_Unit...
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_snake_bites_in_Australia

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