A Neglected Pandemic
Snakebite envenoming is a disease of inequity. While bites occur globally, the outcome is overwhelmingly determined by where the victim lives. This is a story of a solvable crisis.
A Tale of Two Outcomes: Bites vs. Deaths
The number of snakebites is not a predictor of mortality. The world’s most venomous snakes don’t cause the most deaths; failing healthcare systems do. This chart reveals the stark disparity between incidents and fatalities across continents.
A Looming Threat: The Perfect Storm
The current crisis is set to worsen. A combination of environmental and demographic factors are creating a perfect storm that will inevitably lead to more snakebites and a greater strain on already fragile health systems.
Population Growth
As the human population grows, particularly in rural areas of Africa and Asia, more people will share land with snakes, leading to more frequent encounters.
Warmer Climate
Climate change is making snakes more active for longer periods of the year and expanding their habitats into new regions, increasing the window of risk.
Urban Expansion
Deforestation and the expansion of cities and farmland are destroying natural habitats, forcing snakes into closer contact with human settlements in their search for food and shelter.
The Failing Response: A Broken System
Just as the threat is growing, the primary defence is crumbling. The world is facing a critical antivenom shortage, driven by a market that has failed the people who need it most. Production is insufficient and stocks are dangerously depleted.
The Antivenom Affordability Crisis
The single greatest barrier to survival is the cost of treatment. The price of saving a life varies dramatically, creating a deadly economic divide.
Note: Chart uses a logarithmic scale to display the extreme variation in cost.
A Solvable Crisis & An Urgent Call to Action
Snakebite is not an unsolvable problem. Regions like Australia have proven that with the right systems, deaths can be almost entirely eliminated. However, we must act proactively to counter the growing threat while antivenom is still available, and urgently invest in developing cheaper, more effective next-generation treatments.
Australia’s Success Story: A Model for the World
The Right Technique for the Right Snake
Pressure Immobilisation is extremely effective in Australia as its deadly snakes are elapids (neurotoxic venom). The technique slows venom’s spread via the lymphatic system. It is contraindicated for viper bites, as trapping haemotoxic venom can cause severe local tissue death.
Free & Effective Antivenom
High-quality antivenom is available in all hospitals, free to the patient.
Result: Near-Zero Mortality
This integrated system has reduced fatalities to just 1-2 per year on average. A bite from one of the world’s most venomous snakes is transformed from a likely death sentence into a manageable medical emergency with an extremely high survival rate.
Appendix: India’s “Big Four” Threat Profiles
On the Indian subcontinent, a specific group of four species are infamous for their impact. A snake’s danger is a combination of factors. This chart compares the Big Four on multiple traits. Click a row in the table to toggle its plot on the chart.
| Snake | 1. Defensive Behaviour | 2. Proximity to Humans | 3. Venom Potency | 4. Medical Severity | 5. Venom Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell’s Viper | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Common Krait | 3 / 10 | 7 / 10 | 10 / 10 | 8 / 10 | 4 / 10 |
| Indian Cobra | 7 / 10 | 8 / 10 | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Saw-Scaled Viper | 9 / 10 | 6 / 10 | 5 / 10 | 8 / 10 | 3 / 10 |