The green pit viper may not be more lethal than Russell’s viper, the saw-scaled viper, the spectacled cobra or the common krait. But what it injects from its poison glands often renders the polyvalent antivenom derived from the venom of the other four ineffective.
About:
The monocled cobra, the banded krait, the lesser black krait, the great black krait, the mountain pit viper and the redneck keelback are among 15 venomous snakes out of 64 recorded so far across Northeast India.
Most of the snakebite cases in the region involve different species of the green pit viper, making up the other venomous snakes.
The antivenom derived from the “Big Four” snakes are ineffective on the toxin injected by the green pit viper, or for that matter, most other venomous snakes found in the region.
Neurotoxin is a poison that acts on the nervous system. Cytotoxins kill the cells in a body.
World Snake Day is celebrated every July 16 to raise awareness about snakes and their importance in our ecosystem.
Data on snakebites
There are more than 1.4 million cases resulting in 1,25,000 fatalities annually.
More than 46,000 people — the highest on earth — die and thrice the number are disabled due to snakebites every year with 77% of the victims dying outside healthcare facilities, indicating that people go for alternative treatment.
Most snakebite cases in India are reported between June and September and 58% of the victims are farmers and labourers.
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