Gujarat closer to region-specific anti-snake venom; supply sent for production
Gujarat has taken a significant step towards developing its own region-specific anti-snake venom. The Snake Research Institute (SRI) at Dharampur in Valsad district has supplied freeze-dried venom from four medically important snake species to a licensed manufacturer. The consignment was handed over to M/s Vins Bioproducts Limited, based in Telangana, through an e-auction.
The supplied venom includes 33.37 grams of Indian cobra venom, 2.67 grams of common krait venom, 30.82 grams of Russell's viper venom, and 1.71 grams of saw-scaled viper venom. These four species are responsible for the majority of snakebite cases in the state.
Officials expect the first batch of region-specific anti-venom to be available within a year. This development is expected to improve snakebite treatment in Gujarat and contribute to India's goal of reducing snakebite deaths by 50% by 2030, as outlined in the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE) launched in 2024.
State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia stated that the government is committed to reducing snakebite-related deaths through region-specific anti-venom. The SRI follows World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for snake handling and venom extraction, ensuring quality and safety.
Region-specific anti-venom is crucial because venom composition can vary across geographical areas. Anti-venom produced using venom from snakes in one region may be less effective for bites in another region. The institute's director, S.K. Srivastava, noted that snakebites cause far more fatalities than other human-wildlife conflicts. In 2022, official statistics showed 550 deaths from wildlife attacks, compared to nearly 65,000 from snakebites.
Dr. D.C. Patel, vice-chairman of SRI, explained that the institute collects venom from snakes found across Gujarat to tailor the anti-venom to the local snake population. The institute currently houses around 471 venomous snakes of the major medically important species. Venom extraction follows WHO guidelines, and the venom is processed and freeze-dried before supply.
The SRI is the second institution in India, after the Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Co-operative Society in Tamil Nadu, to extract venom for anti-venom manufacturing. This initiative aligns with the central government's NAP-SE, making India the first country to adopt such a national plan aiming to halve snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030.
