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A new scientific study found that 93 million people live in remote areas with poisonous snakes and that, if bitten, they are more likely to die than those living in urban areas because of an access limited to anti-venom drugs.
The study, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, was published today in the international medical journal, The Lancet .
"Vulnerability to snakebites represents a link between ecological contexts and public health weaknesses," said Dr. David Pigott, one of the authors of the study and an adjunct professor at IHME. "Understanding where venomous snakes live and the proximity of effective treatments are the two most important steps towards reducing deaths. Our badysis identifies the most needy communities."
According to Pigott, the nations the most vulnerable include: Benin, Congo (Brazzaville), Ethiopia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and South Sudan
He and other researchers have identified the regions and countries where he In addition, they generated maps of 278 species of venomous snakes listed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The study cross-referenced these data in using criteria such as transportation time to care facilities with anti-venom drugs and quality of care based on an index of access to care and quality, which examines 32 causes whose death should not occur produce in the presence of effective health care.
In May, WHO commissioned a comprehensive plan to help countries make access to treatment for people bitten by venomous snakes. This follows a statement last year that poisoning by snakebites is a neglected tropical disease.
Other research concludes that it is estimated that 5 million people are bitten each year by venomous snakes and about 125,000 die. As a result, it is one of the heaviest neglected tropical diseases.
"Despite the numbers, snakebites have received relatively limited global attention," said Professor Simon Hay, director of Geospatial Sciences at IHME. "We hope this badysis will expand the discussion on snakes."
Researchers from the University of Geneva and University Hospitals of Geneva participated in this study.
"Thanks to this model, we were able to build three maps that allowed us to discover the three hotspots according to these three criteria, focusing on the areas where the individuals are the most vulnerable", explains Nicolas Ray , researcher at the Institute of Environmental Sciences and at the Institute of World Health, at the University of Geneva.
Learn more:
Ah, spring. . . and a snake bite alert
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