T'puram: Twenty-nine calls in a single day – that is what Kerala's emergency response system handled on Monday as incidence of snakebites rose across districts with the onset of summer. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, which compiled data from 108 ambulance network, found that 21 confirmed cases and eight suspected cases were attended in 24 hours in both urban and rural areas.
Kozhikode reported the highest number with five confirmed bites and three suspected cases, followed by Thiruvananthapuram with three confirmed and two suspected cases. Alappuzha, Kollam, Kannur, Malappuram and Thrissur reported multiple incidents, while cases were also recorded in Palakkad, Wayanad and Kottayam.
Officials said the numbers are not an outlier but reflect a seasonal pattern that intensifies as temperatures rise, driving snakes out of their natural habitats into spaces where people live. At present, anti-venom is available in 146 govt hospitals across the state. The spike in daily incidents has highlighted gaps in early response, clinical preparedness and region-specific treatment. Against this backdrop, Kerala State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming, which is awaiting notification due to model code of conduct, outlines changes in how cases are studied and managed.
A key concern flagged in the draft is the mismatch between standard treatment and the types of snakebites reported in the state. The anti-venom used is based on the ‘big four' snakes, while Kerala reports a wider range of venomous species in bite cases.
To address this, the draft plan proposes stepping up local research so that treatment is better aligned with the kinds of snakebites actually seen in state. This includes studying how bites vary across regions and seasons and how different species affect patients clinically.
On the treatment side, the focus is on improving the effectiveness of anti-venom. The proposal includes setting up authorized centres to collect venom and working with manufacturers to develop more suitable antivenoms, including one specifically targeting pit vipers, which doctors say are increasingly involved in cases.
The draft also highlights gaps within the healthcare system, calling for practical training for doctors, nurses, paramedics and ambulance staff in identifying symptoms, administering anti-venom and managing complications while following standard treatment protocols.
Delay in transporting patients, especially from remote and tribal areas, is identified as another concern. The plan suggests strengthening primary health centres so that basic stabilisation can be done locally and, in some cases, the first dose anti-venom can be administered before referral.
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Gujarat Election Results 2026Sai Kiran K P is an Assistant Editor with The Times of India, bas...
Read MoreSai Kiran K P is an Assistant Editor with The Times of India, based in the Thiruvananthapuram bureau, where he has been working since 2011. Over the years, he has reported from New Delhi and Kerala, covering subjects ranging from crime and courts to governance and public policy.
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