CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, May 13: As per the research done by the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, on average, a total of 350 snakebite cases have been reported in Jharkhand in the last two years.
The research focused on snake bite instances in the Jharkhand region, which was found to be rare and inconclusive.
Over a year, 375 cases of snakebite were presented to RIMS Ranchi in 2020, where they were treated using various protocols based on the need and available resources.
45 of the 375 snakebite victims brought to RIMS Ranchi died, indicating a 12 percent fatality rate. Males accounted for 61.33 percent of all snakebite cases, while females accounted for 38.67 percent.
Only 6.7 percent of cases came from urban areas, while 93.33 percent came from rural areas. At this tertiary care facility, more than 88 percent of the cases were successfully treated with a low dose of ASV.
Mobarak Snake Saver, One of the popular snake savers from Ranchi has rescued thousands of snakes from various parts of Jharkhand and believes that snakebite can be prevented using basic senses.
“It is always a terrifying instance to have a conflict with snakes. But it should be noted that around 90% of snakes in this region are non-venomous and cause no harm. One should never try to catch a snake on their own and should always call a snake expert,” the snake saver said.
He added that in the case of snakebite the only way to save one is by going to the nearest government hospital as it is the only place where anti-venoms are available. One should not get into superstitious beliefs.
The venomous snakes that are prevalent in Jharkhand are Cobra, Krait and Russel Viper and a bite from any of these three can be fatal to humans.
The emergency unit in RIMS and Sadar Hospital in Ranchi are the two places where antivenoms for snakebite patients are available.
In India, it is believed that 40,000-50,000 people die each year as a result of snake bites. According to official statistics, rural areas account for more than 95 percent of all bites.
