Kerala declares snakebite a public health priority to improve tracking and treatment

The Kerala government has declared snakebite envenomation a disease of “utmost public health importance” under Section 28 of the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, to strengthen data collection and documentation amid concerns over fatalities from snakebite incidents. The notification was issued by Dr Rajan Khobragade, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) as per a report by PTI.

The state’s decision comes two weeks after the Kerala High Court ordered that snakebite cases be made notifiable and more antivenom production be enabled, following petitions highlighting inadequate medical response to child victims.

Purpose and implications of the designation

Snakebite envenomation results from venomous snake bites and can lead to death or permanent disability if not treated promptly. The government said that declaring it a disease of public health importance enables more systematic information gathering and enforcement of treatment protocols.

Under the Public Health Act, any disease—communicable or non‑communicable—may be so designated if the government deems it necessary to mandate reporting or standardise treatment practices.

Context of court orders and state response

In late September, a division bench of the Kerala High Court directed the state to make snakebite cases notifiable and to coordinate across departments to manage snakebite incidents, especially in schools. The court noted that many Indian states already treat snakebite envenomation as a notifiable disease, citing the need for reliable data to drive policy responses.

One of the petitions stemmed from the 2019 death of a schoolgirl from snakebite in Wayanad’s Sulthan Bathery, which raised concerns about the absence of comprehensive state policies and medical support.

Additional measures and technology adoption

The state’s Forest Department had earlier launched the “SARPA” app in 2020 to manage human‑snake interactions and reduce incidents of snakebite. Department sources say the app has potential to substantially reduce snakebite cases if effectively used and integrated with public health measures.

(With inputs from PTI)