More Than 6,000 Deaths A Year from Snake Bites

More than 7 lakh people are bitten by snakes every year in the country. Of these, more than 6,000 people died.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque made the remarks at a function on the occasion of the 4th International Snakebite Awareness Day-2021 organized by the Health Directorate on Sunday (September 19) morning.

Snake bites are a non-communicable disease, he said. The number of people infected with this disease is increasing every year. More than 5 million people worldwide are bitten by snakes every year. Millions of them died and more than three to four million were maimed.

"We all need to be vigilant to prevent snake bite deaths," the minister said. Every hospital in the country should have anti-venom. It has to be arranged at all levels of upazila and district.

The minister said the most venomous cobra snake bites in the country are causing casualties. There are many more venomous species of snakes in the country. Vipers, Russell vipers are also found in significant numbers in the country. However, the number of cobra snakes is more.

Zahid Maleque said, "We know that most of the snake habitats are in the brushwood." But people are taking possession of these lands. So, the snakes have lost its homes and are moving to the locality. Also, during the rainy season, the snake's habitat sinks and they take shelter in human’s homes.

However, the Director General of the Health Directorate, Prof. ABM Khurshid Alam, Additional Director General Prof. Mirzadi Sebrina Flora, Line Director Prof. Robed Amin among others were present at the program.