India has emerged as the country with the most snakebite fatalities, with an estimated 1.2 million deaths reported between 2000 and 2019, according to recent medical data. This staggering number accounts for nearly half of the global snakebite death toll, with an average of 58,000 deaths annually.
The findings, published in the journal eLife on 7 July 2020, underline the severity of snakebite-related mortality in the country, which represents a significant public health challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that worldwide, between 81,000 and 138,000 people die each year from snakebites, with India bearing the heaviest burden.
This crisis highlights the urgent need for better prevention, medical intervention, and awareness in India, where snakebites continue to claim thousands of lives each year, particularly in rural areas.
