Kerala Designates Snakebite Envenomation as Critical Public Health Concern

The Kerala government declared snakebite envenomation a critical public health issue to improve data and response to snakebite fatalities. This decision follows a high court directive aiming to raise awareness and develop treatment protocols for snakebite incidents, especially in schools.

The Kerala government has escalated snakebite envenomation to a disease of 'utmost public health importance', a strategic measure aimed at enhancing data collection and addressing rising fatalities.

The decision, enacted under Section 28 of the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, comes weeks after the state's High Court highlighted deficiencies in the infrastructure to handle snakebite emergencies, particularly in educational institutions.

As snakebite cases increase with snakes migrating into human habitats, the Kerala Forest Department's 'SARPA' app, launched in 2020, continues to assist in managing these encounters, significantly reducing incidents.

(With inputs from agencies.)