NOTIFIABLE DISEASE
1. Context
The Union Health Ministry has urged states to make snakebites a notifiable disease — a disease that is legally required to be reported to the government by both private and public hospitals.
2. Snakebite as a disease
- Snakebites pose a significant public health issue in India, with an estimated three to four million cases reported annually.
- According to the 2020 Indian Million Death Study, which investigated premature death causes in the country, around 58,000 deaths occur each year due to snakebites.
- To address this, the government introduced the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) earlier this year, aiming to reduce snakebite fatalities by 50% by 2030.
- NAPSE also suggested classifying snakebites as a notifiable disease. Snakebite incidents often result in acute medical crises requiring prompt intervention, as they can lead to severe paralysis impairing breathing, fatal bleeding, and extensive tissue damage.
- Administering antivenoms is crucial for managing symptoms and preventing fatalities. India is home to over 310 snake species, of which 66 are venomous, 42 are mildly venomous, and 23 are classified as medically significant due to their lethal venom.
- However, approximately 90% of snakebite cases are attributed to the 'Big Four' species: the Indian cobra, common krait, Russell’s viper, and saw-scaled viper.
- The polyvalent antivenom available commercially is formulated using venom from these four species and is effective in treating about 80% of snakebite cases
3. Notifiable Diseases
Diseases that have the potential to trigger outbreaks, result in fatalities, or require immediate investigation to implement appropriate public health actions are typically designated as notifiable diseases. While the list of notifiable diseases varies across states — as it is the responsibility of state governments to issue such notifications — common infections like tuberculosis, HIV, cholera, malaria, dengue, and hepatitis are frequently included in these lists.
4. Why does the Centre want to consider Snakebite as a notifiable disease?
- Designating snakebites as a notifiable disease is anticipated to enhance surveillance and provide accurate data on snakebite cases and fatalities across India.
- This information would enable the government to effectively address, prevent, and manage snakebite incidents. It would also facilitate the distribution of sufficient antivenoms to affected regions and the provision of targeted training in areas with high snakebite occurrences.
- According to NAPSE, snakebite incidents are most common in densely populated, low-lying agricultural regions in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat
5. Challenges of treating Snakebites
The challenges surrounding snakebite management primarily fall into three areas:
- Treatment: Many snakebite victims either fail to reach healthcare facilities in time or avoid them altogether, often opting for faith-based healers instead. Additionally, healthcare centers frequently lack staff trained to treat snakebites effectively, and diagnostic tests to confirm snakebites are typically unavailable.
- Antivenoms: Most venom used to produce antivenoms in India is sourced from snakes captured by the Irula tribe, native to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. However, a significant challenge arises from geographical variations in the biochemical composition and effects of venom, even within the same snake species. According to a 2020 study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR), these variations often result in commercial anti-snake venom (ASV) failing to effectively neutralize toxins or mitigate their toxicity in different regions.
- Further complications stem from the fact that venom potency varies with the snake’s age. For example, research from 2024 highlights that venom from Russell’s viper neonates is significantly more toxic to mammals and reptiles compared to that of adults. Antivenoms themselves can also trigger adverse reactions, adding to the complexity of treatment.
- Moreover, commercially available antivenoms are ineffective against certain regional snake species, such as the banded krait, monocled cobra, and green pit viper found in Northeast India.
- To address these limitations, researchers are now exploring artificially produced antibodies capable of neutralizing toxins from a broader range of snake species. They are also investigating the use of artificially engineered peptides as an alternative approach to counteract venom toxins
|
For Prelims: National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE), Snakebite-prone regions
For Mains: General Studies Paper II (Governance, Health, and Policy), General Studies Paper III (Science, Environment, and Disaster Management)
|
|
Practice Questions
Prelims MCQs:
Mains Questions:
|
Source: Indianexpress
