First, the Karnataka government has classified snake bites on the list of notifiable diseases announced under the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), which consists of all the health facilities.
As per a notification issued on February 12, the Karnataka government had directed all government and private hospitals and medical institutes to compulsorily notify all cases of inpatients and outpatients getting treatment or dying due to snake bites by uploading their details on IHIP.
It implies that any snakebite case in the state exhibited to a private or government hospital must be reported under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program of the state government.
Health Department officials noted that this data will also help the Health and Family Welfare Department understand the burden of snakebites. Additionally, it will track any seasonal and regional variations and prepare a sufficient stock of the anti-venom required for treatment.
The step was taken in the wake of increased incidents of snakebite in Karnataka. According to a report and data from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, in 2023 alone, especially between January and October, the state recorded 5,316 snakebites.
Commissioner of the Health and Family Welfare Department, D. Randeep, noted that although it is not a disease in the traditional sense, the under-reporting of cases and lack of awareness about free treatment prompted the Department to make it a notifiable disease.
The Human Society International (HSI) has praised this move of the state government, with Karnataka being the first state in India to declare snake bite as a notifiable disease.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)
