Kerala Declares Snakebite Envenomation a Disease of Public Health Importance

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has officially designated snakebite envenomation as a disease of “utmost public health importance,” a step aimed at improving documentation, data collection, and treatment protocols amid growing concern over fatalities from snakebite incidents.

The declaration was issued under Section 28 of the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, according to a gazette notification released on Friday. The notification, signed by Dr Rajan Khobragade, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), emphasises that snakebite envenomation is a life-threatening condition resulting from the bite of venomous snakes.

“Snakebite envenomation is hereby declared a disease of public health importance throughout the state,” the notification stated. It explained that any condition, whether communicable or non-communicable, may be classified under this category if there is a need to gather additional data or establish standardised treatment procedures.

If timely medical intervention is not provided, a venomous snakebite can result in death or severe health complications, including permanent disability.

This decision follows closely after a September 26 ruling by a division bench of the Kerala High Court, led by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen. The court had directed the state to treat snakebite cases as notifiable and urged the production of additional antivenoms. The move came in response to petitions highlighting insufficient medical care for children suffering from snakebites, notably after the death of a schoolgirl in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad, on November 20, 2019.

The bench observed that Kerala lacked a coordinated policy to involve various departments in tackling snakebites in schools. It also noted that several Indian states already treat snakebite envenomation as a notifiable condition, requiring formal reporting. In the absence of accurate data, interventions often remain inconsistent.

The High Court instructed the state government to comply with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s November 2022 recommendation to make snakebite cases and fatalities notifiable under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, within two months.

To address the rising number of human-snake encounters, the Kerala Forest Department introduced the “SARPA” mobile application in 2020. Officials stated that the app has the potential to significantly reduce incidents by enabling more efficient monitoring and management of snake movements in residential areas.