To Curb Deaths, Tamil Nadu Declares Snakebite A Notifiable Disease

Hospitals will now be required to report data on snakebites to the state government.

In a significant move to address the growing concern over such cases, the Tamil Nadu government has declared snakebite a notifiable disease under the Public Health Act. 

The decision is aimed at improving data collection, clinical infrastructure and allocating anti-snake venom to prevent deaths due to snakebites. Hospitals will now be required to report data on snakebites to the state government.

Till June this year, 7,300 snakebite cases were reported in Tamil Nadu and 13 people have died. The number was 19,795 cases with 43 deaths last year and 15,120 cases with 17 deaths in 2022.