Snakebite – the most ignored way to die

Abstract

Snakebite envenoming was recently included in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) list of 20 most neglected tropical diseases. These 20 conditions are a diverse group of diseases which affect or occur mainly in impoverished communities and tend to impact more upon women and children. It is estimated that every year almost 500,000 people are maimed, permanently injured, or disabled by snakebite envenoming. The WHO has set a roadmap for the prevention, reduction, and control of snakebite envenoming, aiming to reduce snakebite deaths and disability by 50% before 2030. An overview of the global impact of snakebite envenoming is given concluding with a report of snakebite envenoming in an Australian veterinarian.