Around 7,000 Bangladeshis died from snake bites in 2022, government survey shows
\n DHAKA
\nBangladesh is working to raise nationwide awareness about snake bites amid rising cases of such incidents across the country, an official said on Sunday.
\nThe World Health Organization estimates that 5.4 million people worldwide are bitten by snakes each year, with over half by venomous snakes and causing around 100,000 deaths. Snake bites in South Asia contribute to nearly 70 percent of the death toll.
\nBangladesh recorded around 7,000 deaths out of 400,000 snake bite incidents that occurred in 2022, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health.
\n\u201cThe incidents of snake bites are a concerning issue for us, as people are getting frightened over it. And it\u2019s true that snake biting incidents have increased in the country,\u201d Dr. Mohammad Nurul Islam, a program manager at the ministry\u2019s directorate general of health services, told Arab News.
\nThough officials have yet to compile current data on snake bites, hospitals across Bangladesh have reported an increase in people being bitten by snakes.
\nThe rising number of snakes can be attributed to an ongoing breeding season, which began in April and is expected to end in September, Islam said, adding that the snakes are also moving with water hyacinth floating plants amid the rainy season.
\n\u201cBesides, as an impact of climate change different types of snakes\u2019 infestations will increase and it\u2019s part of a global trend,\u201d he added.
\nMany incidents of snake bites, some of which involved the Russel\u2019s viper \u2014 a species commonly found in South Asia \u2014 have become a major topic on Bangladeshi social media in recent weeks.
\nWith their drab coloring, Russell\u2019s vipers can be hard to spot in the dense undergrowth of agricultural fields, but it does not bite unless attacked and is \u201cvery lazy in nature,\u201d Islam said. People working outdoors must therefore remain alert and take precautions to remain safe from the species\u2019 bite.
\nBut as Bangladeshis are \u201creceiving a lot of misleading information\u201d through social media, authorities are hoping to tackle the growing misinformation through official awareness campaigns.
\n\u201cWe are working on providing treatment as well as removing fear from people\u2019s minds by delivering the right information,\u201d he said.
\nAs most victims survive if treated quickly with anti-venom, health officials are instructing people to go to the hospital immediately after a snake bite.
\n\u201cIt should be done without any delay. Here, people shouldn\u2019t waste time with the local quack doctors,\u201d Islam said. \u201cAll our government hospitals and medical colleges across the country are equipped with enough antivenom to deal with the snake-bitten patients. It\u2019s being provided to patients at free of cost also.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Around 7,000 Bangladeshis died from snake bites in 2022, government survey shows DHAKA Bangladesh is working to raise nationwide awareness about snake bites amid rising cases of such incidents across the country, an official said on Sunday. The World Health Organization estimates that 5.4 million people worldwide are bitten by snakes each year, with over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":414134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-414109","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n