WHO Warns of Antivenom Shortages Amid Rising Snake Bite Cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms about a growing shortage of antivenoms amid a global spike in snake bites, driven in part by climate change-related flooding. Each year, up to 2.7 million people are bitten by venomous snakes, with around 138,000 deaths and 240,000 individuals left with permanent disabilities. Snake venom can cause paralysis, fatal hemorrhages, kidney failure, and tissue damage leading to limb loss.

David Williams, a WHO expert on snakebites, noted that one person dies from a snake bite every four to six minutes, with most victims residing in tropical and impoverished regions. The problem is worsened by insufficient access to effective antivenoms in many parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which has only 2.5% of the treatments needed.

India is the most severely affected country, with 58,000 deaths annually, while neighboring Bangladesh and Pakistan also suffer significant losses. Climate change is exacerbating the situation, with floods increasing snakebite cases in affected areas like Nigeria, Pakistan, and Myanmar.

WHO also warned that climate change might shift the distribution of venomous snakes, threatening previously unaffected regions.