NEWS – Karnataka Sees Alarming Rise in Snakebite Cases: 13,235 Incidents and 100 Deaths Reported in 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

Rising Trend

• Karnataka reported 13,235 snakebite cases and 100 deaths in 2024, a steep rise compared to:
  • 6,596 cases & 19 deaths (2023)
  • 3,439 cases & 17 deaths (2022)
• Data was presented by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao in the Legislative Council (Aug 11, 2025).

Regional Distribution

• Tumakuru: Highest fatalities (9 deaths).
• Hassan: Highest number of cases (850).

Causes of Increase

• Shrinking Habitat: Urban expansion into forests and abandoned lands forces human-snake encounters.
• Solid Waste Mismanagement: Discarded food items attract rats, which in turn lure snakes into residential areas.
• Fear Factor: Experts note deaths also occur from panic-induced cardiac arrests even when bites are non-venomous (“dry bites”).

Government Measures

• Snakebite declared a notifiable disease under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2024.
• Better reporting has contributed to higher recorded cases.

Health Infrastructure

• Karnataka has 20 taluk hospitals and 2,138 PHCs stocked with anti-venom.
• Treatment requires up to 10 vials of anti-venom per patient.
• Officials assured sufficient stocks across community, primary, and taluk health centres.

Expert Insights

• Urban wildlife specialists highlight the link between land encroachments and rising snake-human conflict.
• Public awareness and waste management are key to reducing incidents.

Global Context

• According to WHO, snakebites cause 45,000–60,000 deaths annually worldwide.
• Karnataka’s rising numbers reflect both ecological stress and improved reporting mechanisms.