Legitimate bites often happened to the lower extremities while illegitimate bites happened to the hands or fingers, as reported in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. And now, without a further ado, let’s have a look at the list of the 6 countries with the most snake bites in the world. Statesman and former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan once called snakebite "the biggest public health crisis you've never heard of." Snake bites occur when a snake bites the skin. This is because of the properties of the Pacific Rim; it has a high number of active submarine earthquake zones, which are a major factor in the occurrence of tsunamis. The tests could lead to the stockpiling of anti-venom in strategic locations. If you see a snake in the wild, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet. [17], Even in Europe, measurement of the prevalence and mortality due to venomous snakebite is challenging, and most figures are likely underestimates. Most snake bites occur when people are handling snakes. However, it is also possible for tsunamis to occur in other places. Venomous snakes are distributed unevenly throughout the United States — the vast majority of snake bites occur in warm weather states. It's known now that the majority of snake bites occur in the fields of rural India by the big three of the snake kingdom - Cobras, Kraits, Vipers. The national average incidence of venomous snake bites in the United States is roughly 4 bites per 100,000 persons,[43] and about 5 deaths per year total (1 death per 65 million people). Officials at the Georgia Poison Control Center in Atlanta told Channel 2 they have gotten about 40 percent more snakebite calls this year than in 2016. The reason is simple: most of the snakebite victims abide in poverty-stricken countries where there’s not a solvent demand for it. Another home treatment is when the victim is told to eat a raw egg, and a half frog is put on the wound to prevent the venom from spreading in the bloodstream. 6 Best Easiest Free Forum Software Solutions, 10 Largest Telecom Companies in The World by Revenue, 7 Best Financial News Apps For Investors and Traders, 10 most common non-poisonous snake species in the world, National Guidelines for Snakebite Management in Nepal, 10 Largest Insurance Companies in the World, 5 Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now According To Ray Dalio, 5 States with the Most Expensive Health Insurance Premiums, 5 Largest Chemical Companies in the World, 5 Largest Fast Food Companies in the World, Top 5 Lithium and Battery Stocks to Buy Now, Top 5 Best Growth Stocks To Buy Now According To Ray Dalio, 10 Largest Construction Companies in the World, 10 Best Stocks To Buy Right Now According To Hedge Funds. Many snake bites in Australia do not result in venom entering your body (known as envenomation) and so they can be managed without antivenom. [66][67] It is typically regarded as the continent's most dangerous snake. Snake venoms are quite complex and cause a range of different effects in human beings, most notably neurotoxic muscle paralysis, which can cause … However, some estimates put the number at 1.2 to 5.5 million snakebites, 421,000 envenomings, resulting in perhaps 20,000 deaths, but the actual number of deaths may be as high as 94,000. Most snakebites occur on the extremities. But it's important to get all snake bites checked as soon as possible. Although most snakes aren’t poisonous, there are several kinds of snakes in the United States that are poisonous. If it is no use (and naturally it isn’t), the relatives then try to take the patient to a hospital that is usually at least a hundred mile from their home. Since these snakes are nocturnal and fossorial, living in burrows underground, bites remain rare, peaking at 1 to 3% in certain areas of the Sudanian savanna. [29] Tea plantations are sometimes associated with elapids such as the common cobras and the king cobra. Snake Bites Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pinterest Print Everyday Safety. [23] One comprehensive study estimates that 91,000 to 420,000 snake envenomings occur in sub-Saharan Africa annually, resulting in anywhere from 4,000 to 30,000 deaths. Most of the methods currently proposed as first aid for snakebites are either ineffective, dangerous, or delay proper medical treatment. What’s more, somebody dies of being bitten by a venomous snake in every five minutes, globally, and another four will have permanent disability. Because you can’t always tell if a bite is a dry bite, always assume you have been injected with venom and manage the bite as a medical emergency — call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. [17] This is because most people in rural areas seek help of traditional shamans instead of modern hospitals. It means around 15,000 people die of envenoming in hospitals annually. In other words, in 2018 more people died of snake bites across the world, than in wars. Of the elapids, the yellow-bellied sea snake has, very rarely, caused venomous bites, while the coral snakes, although common, inflict only 1 to 2% of all reported snake bites. Dr. Gerardo said that most snake bites occur in common places, like near wood piles or in the garden. Even a bite from a "harmless" snake can cause infection or allergic reaction in some people. But for most snake charmers, usually they are bitten within their arms, hands. [18] In forested areas of Guinea, cobras may inflict more than 30% of all venomous bites. Where Do Snake Bites Happen? Most snake bites to humans occur to the feet/lower leg or the hands, Frank said. 85 percent of bites are to the fingers and hands. [26][27] In regions of Kerala, India, it may be responsible for nearly 10% of venomous bites. Still, according to a 2011 veterinary study, nearly 150,000 dogs and cats are bitten each year. However, these symptoms can also occur due to intense fear following the bite. [33], In Northern Australia, sea snakes are common and occasionally inflict bites, although far less frequently than terrestrial snakes. [2][41], The two-striped forest pit viper is an arboreal snake from the Amazon Basin. [8][11] The tropical rattlesnake is another important species. Most of the Vietnemese population live in the countryside without the necessary medical opportunities and antivenom treatment, which indicates when it comes to snake bites, Vietnam has to face with more severe issues than many other Southeast Asian countries. Most bites occur when people get too close or try to touch or kill a snake. We can find exact databases only in a few developed countries where snake bites are not very common. That means these incidents tend to occur when curious pets initiate a confrontation or simply stumble into the wrong … So, while you might normally think it’s a bad idea to pick up a wild snake, if you are drunk, you might go ahead and do it anyway. Fast moving and aggressive if threatened, it is responsible for more than half of the country's fatal bites. It is a fast revolving storm that features strong winds, a low-pressure center, and a closed low-level atmospheric movement. Of these, Bothrops asper is the most important species, partly because it is abundant in lowland areas and partly because it is frequently found in agricultural and pastoral areas where humans work. They're hiding around everywhere and definitely see more of us than we do them,” he said. India. Three hundred twenty five species in 61 genera are recognized in the family Elapidae [4] and 224 species in 22 genera are recognized in the family Viperidae,[5] In addition, the most diverse and widely distributed snake family, the colubrids, has approximately 700 venomous species,[6] but only five genera—boomslangs, twig snakes, keelback snakes, green snakes, and slender snakes—have caused human fatalities. Most snakebites occur as a result of ignorance about snake habits and habitats. The former family contains Cobras (such as Common Cobra and Monocled Cobra) and Kraits (such as Banded Krait, and Himalayan Krait), while the latter one consists of Pit Vipers (such as Tibetan Viper and Mountain Viper). For your safety, treat all snakebites as if they were venomous and get to a hospital emergency room as quickly as possible. [31] Most of the Pacific Islands are free of terrestrial snakes, although sea snakes are common in coral reefs. The Snake is Not Yet Used to Humans. These are cobra, krait, Russell's viper, sawscaled viper, green snakes, and sea snakes. Venomous bites: These are much more dangerous. Monsoons occur in the Americas too, but tend to be weaker than in other regions. Greater than 90% of snake bites occur on the legs and snakes can not bite through heavy leather. Naturally, not all the snakes are venomous, as you can read in Insider Monkey’s earlier article on 10 most common non-poisonous snake species in the world. [35], Despite the fact that many Australian snakes have unusually potent venom, wide access to antivenom, which is available for all dangerous species,[32] has made deaths exceedingly rare. Snake venoms can be classified as hemotoxic (attacking tissue and blood) and neurotoxic (damaging or destroying nerve tissue). While snakebites are very rarely fatal in a healthy human being, it is always best to have a plan in place for exactly what to do if the situation does occur. [23] Between 40 and 80% of victims, depending on the country, exclusively rely on traditional medicine for treatment. Snake bites by venomous species do not always cause symptoms, and only 50-70% of bites by a venomous species will actually cause envenoming. If you just bought a snake as a pet, it might not be ready for … Another key fact is: not only African and Asian countries lack of antivenom, but we can observe there’s a worldwide shortage of it, as only half of the antivenom needed is available across the globe. Snake only attact when they are treaten. It’s estimated that at least 81,000 to 138,000 people die each year from snake bites. They occur when a snake transmits venom during a bite. Because you can’t always tell if a bite is a dry bite, always assume you have been injected with venom and manage the bite as a medical emergency — call triple zero (000) for an ambulance . According to the CDC, about 8,000 snakebites happen in the U.S. each year. Agricultural and tropical regions report more snakebites than anywhere else. In fact, about half of Russell’s viper bites and a third of cobra bites are dry. [46] Of the coral snakes, Micrurus nigrocinctus is responsible for the most bites. Here most snakebite victims dwelling in rural areas are farmers, fishermen, and hunters and also there are a high number of snakebite occurrences that happened at their homes as most [2][10][12] Children and the elderly are the most likely to die. [33][65], Although not a particularly aggressive species, the horned viper possesses the most potent venom of all European snakes. If you are bitten by a snake we urge you to call us immediately as there are a number of dos and don’ts in regards to treatment. [59] Although sea snakes are known for extremely potent venom, about 80% of reported bites end up being dry. The strategy has to deal with awareness and education. Snakes bite to defend themselves when they feel threatened. In these poverty-stricken countries, only 8% of victims get to hospital, say, around 90% are unknown, which leads to their sure deaths. Snake bites remain rare in the United States, but they do happen and they can be fatal depending on the species, and so you want to be on the lookout. Unfortunately but unsurprisingly, there are very few data related to snake bites. Also, most snake bites occur in rural areas of poor countries, far from urban areas where most health clinics are located. [14] Approximately 1 million snakebites occur in sub-Saharan Africa each year,[23] resulting in up to 500,000 envenomations, 25,000 deaths and another 25,000 permanent disabilities.[24]. [2][41] Further, the majority of bites in the United States occur in the southwestern part of the country, in part because rattlesnake populations in the eastern states are much lower.[42]. It is believed that up to 1,500 definite or suspected snakebites occur in Australia each year, of which about 200 are serious enough to warrant antivenom therapy. In order to make the compilation of countries with the most snake bites in the world, we have consulted a comprehensive report, The Global Burden of Snakebite, where we found there are 58 countries of the 227 where snake bites do not befall. The reason is that where envenomings are common, there are no exact data available, due to lack of the necessary telecommunication and technological infrastructure. There are another 92 countries where there are no data, so we could find only estimated numbers concerning to envenomings. [51], Although snakebite risk may be high, tourists and other visitors are rarely bitten. Bites can cause an allergic reaction in … By Geoffrey Migiro on August 16 2018 in Environment. [16], There are also venomous colubrids in Africa, although of these only two arboreal genera, the boomslang and the twig snakes, are likely to inflict life-threatening bites. Such bites are rarely fatal. [1] The Malayan pit viper and banded krait are two other species involved in a significant number of venomous bites. Snakebites often go along with alcohol use. [1][10] Agricultural and tropical regions report more snakebites than anywhere else. [62] The advent of antivenom and advances in emergency medicine have reduced fatalities to about 3% of snakebite cases. Some people involved in fatal snake bites in this country were bitten in their home, and even in their sleep. Without a shadow of a doubt, India tops the list of the … Most snakebites occur in developing countries. There are 27,000 snakebites in Mexico annually, but according to Snakebite in the Americas, there are no data available for mortality rate. The brown snakes are not present on these islands. Not every bite will actually cause envenomation, but all bites should be treated as though this has occurred. Bites from venomous snakes are extremely rare in the states near the Canada–US border. [70], Southeast Asia's reticulated python, the world's largest snake, is a potentially dangerous species. Nonetheless, there are approximately Because there is no reliable reporting system in place and because most victims never report their injury to health care facilities, these numbers are uncertain. While the majority of poisonous snake bites are not fatal, they can cause major complications. Share on Pinterest. The majority of snake bites take place in densely populated areas of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia, where humans and snakes often come into contact. An epidemiological study estimated about 8000 snakebites per year with 22% mortality which has been identified to be one of the highest in the world. [16], Most bites occur in industrial plantations, which attract many types of snake prey. [1] The variability of these estimates is indicative of the difficulty in accurately assessing snakebite morbidity and mortality. But what is the strategy to deal with them? Tsunamis occur with the most frequency in the Pacific Ocean and around Indonesia. At least 300 envenomations occur each year in Papua New Guinea, 30 in the Solomon Islands, and 10 Vanuatu. This usually occurs when the snake is not moving and not seen, or is hidden by plants. In Nepal there are two snake families, the Elapidae and  Viperidae. Snake bites are most common when the weather is warm. [34] In Tasmania and Kangaroo Island, which have a cooler, moister habitat than mainland Australia, the tiger snakes and copperhead snakes inflict the majority of bites. Around 81,000 people are bitten by snakes annually, and 58,000 of them die. [32], In Europe, nearly all of the snakes responsible for venomous bites belong to the viper family, and of these, the coastal viper, nose-horned viper, asp viper, and Lataste's viper inflict the majority of bites. 1 0. blare_out. Only 1 in 50 million people will die from a snake bite. [59][60], Symptoms may appear in as little as 5 minutes or take 8 hours to develop, depending on the species and region of the body bitten. Snakes deliver their venom through paired fangs. ... (genus Bothrops and related genera) and rattlesnakes (genus Crotalus) … Number of snake bites per year: 81,000. The problem is that in these countries, where antivenom is in the highest demand, don’t have enough resources. Some websites, including CBS News state that one in four attacks occur in Florida or Texas, thus pinning these states on top of our list of states with most snake bites in America. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around five million snake bites occur each year, although venom is only injected in just over half of cases. Most snakebites occur between April and October, when outdoor activities are popular. Snakes can strike faster and farther than you might think – some nearly half their body length. Don’t try to handle, capture, or tease venomous snakes or snakes of unknown identity. [1] There are two major families of venomous snakes, Elapidae and Viperidae. We are half way through our list of the 6 countries with the most snake bites in the world, and Vietnam is on the third spot. Snake bites remain rare in the United States, but they do happen and they can be fatal depending on the species, and so you want to be on the lookout. [23] Most victims who receive treatment by health care professionals have nevertheless delayed seeking medical attention for over 24 hours, and often up to 1 to 2 weeks. 80 species of snakes found in Bangladesh; among them only few are venomous. They are shy, cautious, and typically only aggressive when threatened. [19], Mambas, cobras, and some larger puff adder species may claim territories of up to 1 to 2 square kilometres (0.4 to 0.8 sq mi), which are used by the snakes for hunting and reproduction. Generally, the estimated number of snake-bitten people is around 5.4 million per year, and 2.7 million of them were envenomings. 1 decade ago. Throughout Western Asia, the species responsible for the majority of bites tend to be more venomous than European snakes, but deaths are infrequent. Some snakes, such as coral snakes, have toxins that ca… [32], The brown snakes, death adders, mulga snakes, taipans, and tiger snakes are the five groups that inflict virtually all reported snakebites, although copperheads, rough-scaled snakes, and members of the genus Hoplocephalus are also occasionally involved in bites. [68], The highly venomous eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake species in the world. Dress to protect yourself: Wear … [37] The best estimate is that the annual incidence of snakebites in Europe (including European Russia and Turkey) is 1.06 [0.97–1.15] per 100,000 inhabitants,[36] only about 15% of which are severe bites. Map showing the approximate world distribution of snakes. [53], Amazingly, data from anthropological studies suggest that although snakebite risk and death from snakebite are relatively high among forest-dwelling Amerindian groups (2-4% of all deaths depending on the group),[49][54][55][56][57] the majority of members of some of these groups instead die in conflicts with other humans, either outsiders or other Amerindians. Rattlesnakes are the most venomous species in the US and they can strike at up to a third of their body length. Most crotalid venoms d… However scientists work continously to find new methods to produce anti-venom and to cure snake bites, people in Africa and Asia are still within an ace of death day by day. In South America, Brazil has the largest number of snakebite incidencts, causing around 1,400 deaths per year. Most snake bites in the UK are not serious. In practice it means that patients have to buy the antivenom kit for themselves for $100, however these people try to survive on $2 a day. The risk to field biologists working in Central America is estimated at one bite per 500,000 hours of field work. An important cause of bites in its habitat, it may be the second most dangerous snake in the Amazon after the common lancehead. Ross Vickers, QAS Senior Operations Supervisor in the Mackay-Whitsunday region, said most bites happen in backyards while residents are working or playing in the garden. In Mexico venomous snakes belong to four families: vipers (Viperidae), coral snakes (Elapidae), sea snakes, (Hidrophidae) and Colubrids (Colubridae) ranking by less medical importance. Contrary to public perception, pit viper bites are not immediately fatal unless the venom enters a vein directly. Without a shadow of a doubt, India tops the list of the 6 countries with the most snake bites in the world. Most snake bites in Australia occur when people attempt to catch a snake to remove it. Pit viper snake venoms are hemotoxic, except for some Mojave rattlers. 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