Chennai. To curb the increasing cases of snakebite in Tamil Nadu, the state government has declared snakebite as a notified disease. Till June this year, 7,300 snake bite cases have been reported in the state, in which 13 people died. Last year, 19,795 cases of snakebite were reported in the state and 43 deaths, while 15,120 cases were reported in 2022, which resulted in 17 deaths.
After declaring snakebite as a notified disease, hospitals will now have to report snake bite cases to the government. The move, taken under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, will help prevent deaths due to snakebites, improve data collection, supply of antivenom and diagnostic infrastructure for snakebite prevention. This decision of the state government aims to reduce deaths due to snakebite and empower health services to treat snakebite victims.