MoH: Over 100,000 Killed Globally Each Year by Deadly Snakebites

The Department of Health has sounded the alert regarding the increasing danger posed by snake bites, which result in over 100,000 fatalities worldwide annually.

As part of a fresh global initiative to tackle this frequently neglected health issue, Kenya has teamed up with Costa Rica, Egypt, and Ghana to spearhead the fight against snakebite envenomation (SBE).

The nations expressed their collective pledge at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), which took place in Geneva.

At a high-level event organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, emphasized the critical need to address snake bites as a neglected tropical disease.

She mentioned that snakebites lead to over 100,000 deaths annually, making it a neglected tropical disease.

Preventing avoidable fatalities from snake bites is both attainable and a ethical obligation.

Muthoni emphasized Kenya’s commitment to enhancing its healthcare infrastructure, educating front-line personnel, and encouraging domestic manufacturing of antivenoms with the aim of saving more lives—especially in remote and underprivileged regions where snakebite incidents frequently occur.

The meeting likewise centered around the World Health Organization’s goals for cutting down snakebite fatalities and impairments by the year 2030.

It demanded increased worldwide backing for the Strike Out Snakebite (SOS) Initiative aimed at enhancing accessibility to critical antivenom treatments and care.

The latest World Health Organization (WHO) report underscores the severity of this issue, indicating that approximately 5.4 million individuals annually fall victim to snake bites, out of which 1.8 to 2.7 million experience significant poisoning effects.

Each year, between 81,000 and 138,000 individuals pass away, with numerous others experiencing amputations or enduring long-term impairments.

The document points out that agricultural laborers and minors are the most susceptible groups.

"Due to their smaller body mass, children tend to experience more severe impacts compared to adults," according to the WHO statement.

The circumstances in Kenya are notably dire.

The Institute of Primate Research reports that approximately 4,000 individuals perish annually due to snake bites, with an additional 7,000 suffering from severe consequences like paralysis or enduring health problems.

As international leaders advocate for action, Kenya’s involvement in the WHA78 underscores an increasing dedication to address snakebite fatalities with immediacy, cooperation, and community-centered approaches.

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