Tamil Nadu Declares Snakebite a Notifiable Disease to Curb Rising Deaths

Chennai: Tamil Nu government has officially declared snakebite a tifiable disease, making it mandatory for all government and private hospitals to report snakebite cases. This step aims to support comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies, such as strengning clinical infrastructure and ensuring equate allocation of anti-snake vem to reduce fatalities.

Under Tamil Nu Public Health Act of 1939, this directive was formalized through a Government Order issued by Health and Family Welfare Department on vember 4, followed by a Gazette tification on vember 6, according to an official release on Friday.

“Snakebite envemation is an acute, life-threatening condition,” release emphasized. “It is a preventable public health challenge, particularly affecting rural communities in tropical and subtropical regions.”

World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global strategy to reduce deaths and disabilities from snakebites, while Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Enveming (NAPSE) aims to halve snakebite deaths by 2030 through an integrated health approach.

"Snakebites cause high morbidity and mortality, with agricultural workers, children, and residents of snake-endemic areas especially vulnerable," release ded.

(Except for  heline, article has t been edited by Republic World staff)