Deaths caused by snakebites a ‘notifiable disease’ says Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar

Maharashtra Public Health Department announced that deaths caused by snakebites are a ‘notifiable disease’. Under the notification, government and private hospitals, medical colleges and medical practitioners will be required to report every suspected, probable or confirmed snakebite case, as well as deaths caused by snakebite, to the concerned health authorities.

“This decision will enable effective monitoring of snakebite incidents, timely treatment and planning for the availability of Anti-Snake Venom Vaccine (ASV),” said State Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar.

Mr. Abitkar has instructed health institutions in the State to report every suspected, probable or confirmed case of snakebite observed or under treatment to the concerned District Health Officer or District Surgeon. This information will be recorded in the Health Management Information System (HMIS/DHIS-2), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) or other reporting system specified by the government to collect reliable data on snakebite incidents in the State.

In the wake of the snakebite incident at a tribal residential ashram school in Japtalai village, Dhanora taluka, Gadchiroli, where six schoolgirls were bitten, with three losing their lives, the Public Health Department initiated steps to notify the disease. The authority has observed that snakebite poisoning is a potentially life-threatening condition and that timely diagnosis, proper first aid, immediate hospitalisation and provision of anti-venom vaccine, as required, are of utmost importance. In this context, the government has issued a notification to keep a scientific record of snakebite incidents in the state and take preventive measures based on it.

Nodal mechanism from State to district

The Director (Hospitals) at the State level and the District Surgeon and District Health Officer at the district level will be appointed as Snakebite Nodal Officers. In the municipal area, the Medical Health Officer or Additional Medical Health Officer will be appointed as Nodal Officers. 

According to the Public Health Department, the data will help in planning and making ASV available in the areas where snakebite incidence is high. The snakebite patient record will need to include the date and place of bite, age and sex of the patient, condition of the snakebite, symptoms of envenomation, treatment received, number of ASV vials administered, details of referrals if any, outcome of treatment and death, in case of death. Along with regular monitoring of snakebite incidents and deaths, the location, circumstances, season and other relevant factors will be studied. 

“Bases on the information, District Health Authority will create awareness about snakebite prevention, prompt reporting, first aid, timely referral services and appropriate treatment,” said Mr. Abitkar.