In a landmark move, Tamil Nadu government has declared snakebite a notifiable disease, marking an intensified effort to improve treatment and monitoring of snakebite cases across the state. Under a notification issued on November 4, all cases of snakebite injuries and related deaths in public and private hospitals must be reported to the state health department. This directive, implemented under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act of 1939, aims to streamline response and data collection for snakebite cases.
The government’s decision comes amid reports of snakebite incidents particularly in rural and forest-adjacent areas where encounters with venomous snakes are more frequent. These cases present a considerable public health risk, as snakebites are known to cause significant morbidity and mortality if untreated.
By incorporating snakebite data into Tamil Nadu’s Integrated Health Information Platform, the state hopes to enhance real-time surveillance capabilities, allowing for more coordinated response strategies under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). This development aligns closely with India's National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming, which seeks to reduce snakebite fatalities by 50% by 2030. This national plan adopts a ‘One Health’ approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health perspectives to combat the risks posed by snakebites.
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary Health Dept Govt of Tamil Nadu, said, "Snakebite envenoming poses a serious global health risk, affecting 5.8 billion people, with 81,000-138,000 fatalities annually. Recognized by WHO as a neglected tropical disease, this will need efforts to focus on community education, prevention, conservation, and improved treatment."