Climate change-induced Snakebite Hotspots in India

Why in News?

Recently, a study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reveals that climate change could significantly increase the geographical spread of venomous snakes in India.

• Neglected Disease – Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease like dengue and malaria, which are expanding in geographic reach due to climate change.
• Tropical and subtropical regions of the world experience a disproportionate impact of deaths due to a snakebite.
  • Cases in India are among the highest in the world.
• Big Four Snakes – The Four Species of Venomous snakes, such as Common krait, Russell's viper, Echis carinatus and Indian cobra.
• These are responsible for the majority of snakebite cases among humans on the Indian subcontinent.
• Climate Change – Increased heat and humidity are creating favourable habitats for venomous snakes.
• It increases human-snake interactions across rural and urban areas could present new challenges for public health and medical management.
• Recent findings – States likely to see spread in Haryana, Rajasthan, Assam.
• Continued warming, northeast states, such as Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh considered to lack a habitat conducive for snakes.
• It shows notable increases of over 100 % snakebite risk.
• Highly vulnerable states – Karnataka (including Chikkaballapura, Haveri, and Chitradurga) and Gujarat (Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar).
• Northern and Northeastern states – Rajasthan (Pratapgarh), Assam (Nagaon, Morigaon, and Golaghat), Manipur (Tengnoupal), have experienced an increased risk of snakebite.
• Snakebite Risk Index – It combines climate models, geographic spread, socio-economic vulnerability & healthcare capacity.
• It shows climate change as a looming public health crisis, not just an environmental crisis.

Quick Facts

Reference

The Hindu| New Snakebite Hotspots in India.