Most number of snake-bite deaths in West Bengal: Govt

West Bengal has highest number of deaths due to snake bites, but the figure is declining in the state as well as in the country, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, in a written reply, said that in 2011, the state reported 388 deaths due to snake bite, followed by 383 deaths in 2012.
Although the 2013 figure is provisional, the number went down to 201 whereas in 2014, only 30 people have died from the bite by reptile until June this year.
Apart from West Bengal, states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have also recorded significant deaths due to snake bites.

Deaths due to snake bikes was also declining in the country. In 2011, the number of people died of snake bites were 1559, followed by 1375 in 2012, 1123 in 2013 and 203 in 2014 (until June).
"Health is state subject. Therefore, it is primarily the responsibility of the state government to ensure availability of anti-snake venom serum in the health care facilities.
"However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), funds are provided to states for procurement of drugs including anti-snake venom serum," Harsh Vardhan said.
He added that in addition to manufacturing units of anti-snake venom serum in private sector, Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasuali and Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited, a government of Maharashtra undertaking manufacture anti-snake venom serum.