Fact Sheet | Updated 19 November, 2018 | Download PDF

ABOUT SNAKEBITE ENVENOMING

  • Conservative global estimates show that snakebite envenoming kills 81,000–138,000 people every year and permanently disables 400,000 more.
  • In sub-Saharan Africa, snakebite is estimated to cause about 32,000 deaths and 6,000 amputations a year.
  • The economic burden from snakebite envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa is largely under-researched and unknown, but likely high. A study showed that snakebite treatment costing GBP3 is unaffordable in developing countries. Yet, treatment and transport costs often add up to several years of income.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) and Members States have started prioritising snakebite envenoming. The WHO added snakebite to its high-priority (‘Category A’) list of neglected tropical diseases in 2017; the 71st World Health Assembly adopted a Resolution on Snakebite Envenoming in 2018.

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