Rajshahi's Snakebite Crisis: 38 Dead in 9 Months, Hospital Struggles
Rajshahi, Bangladesh, is grappling with a sharp increase in snakebite cases, with 38 fatalities reported from January to September 2024. The Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) is struggling to cope with the surge, treating 1,167 patients in nine months, and facing a critical shortage of antivenom.
Climate change and habitat loss are driving Russell's vipers and other venomous snakes closer to human settlements. These snakes, including the spectacled cobra and common krait, are responsible for most snakebite deaths in Rajshahi. Russell's viper bites alone accounted for at least 10 deaths in 2024, with admissions rising from 21 in 2018 to 86 in 2024, and a mortality rate averaging 23%.
The increasing snakebite cases and fatalities in Rajshahi underscore the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure, adequate antivenom supply, and public awareness campaigns to educate the community about snake safety and first aid. The opening of the specialised snakebite ward at RMCH is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to tackle this pressing health issue.
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