Date:21/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/21/stories/2008092158110300.htm

Kerala

Most snake-bite deaths due to ignorance: experts

A Correspondent

Nedumbassery: The anti-snake venom (ASV) treatments should be based on the principle that the potency of snake venom of same strain differ with the areas of their inhabitation, pointed out speakers at an international conference on snakes, venom and snake bites that began on Saturday here at Cochin Durbar, near the Cochin International Airport.

The meeting concluded that unfounded beliefs and myths combined with the ignorance of the common man about first aid given in case of a snake bite is a major reason behind the high incidence of deaths from snake bites. According to the WHO, about 50,000 people die due to snake bites in India.

Experts in the seminar said that the potency of snake venom seems to be directly linked to the kind of food the snake feeds, and concluded that further research was required in this area.

The two-day seminar, organised by the Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre in association with the Medical Council of India, was attended by various subject experts and physicians.

The conference was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. Sebastian Vadakkumbadan, director, Little Flower Hospital in a function which was attended by B. Vijayaraghavan, chairman, Chennai Snake Park Trust, and Dr. Varghese Paul, C.R. Maity, H.S. Bavaskar and Dr. C.K. Eapen.