Coimbatore: Every year 5 million people are affected by snakes all over the world. 1.5 million people die due to snake bites every year of which 50,000 are from India and 10,000 people are from Tamil Nadu and many of them are farmers, said assistant professor Sakthivel Vaiyapuri from the University of Reading, England while speaking at an event hosted by the Coimbatore press club.
Coimbatore: Every year 5 million people are affected by snakes all over the world. 1.5 Lakhs people die due to snake bites every year of which 50,000 are from India and 10,000 people are from Tamil Nadu and many of them are farmers, said assistant professor Sakthivel Vaiyapuri from the University of Reading, England while speaking at an event hosted by the Coimbatore press club.
Vaiyapuri revealed that that lack of awareness was the major cause for death by snake bites. " There are 3000 varieties of snakes worldwide out of which only 600 are poisonous. And in that only 200 are found in India," he said.
He said that Indian Cobra, Common Krait, Russels Viper and Saw Scaled Viper are the four big ones to watch out for and other varieties don't affect much.
"If treatment is offered within the first two hours following the snake bite, complete recovery is possible," he noted.
Talking about ways to avoid snake bites, he said, " Snakes come out in search of food during the rainy season and to places where rats are found in plenty. They sense human vibrations and bite people when they are stepped on or harmed in any way."
"Non-poisonous snakes do not cause any harm.Taking anti-venom medicine is important to avoid fatalities due to venomous snake bites. Educating children regarding snakes during their school years can make a difference. It can also be added to the curriculum. Similarly, insurance coverage provided for snake bites is too less. Providing free treatment for snake bites will help", he suggested.
Vaiyapuri brought to the notice of the audience that identifying the kind of venom in the blood, using a single drop of the victim's blood is under testing. He said it would be easier to identify the snake variety if the venom is identified. Such an instrument would be available for sale next year, he said.