Kerala unveiled the State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming

Kerala unveiled the State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming

¨     Kerala unveiled the State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (SAPSE) on 20 July 2026.

¨     The plan aims to achieve zero snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030.

¨     It is aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) and national targets.

¨     Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency caused by venom injected through a snakebite.

¨     Kerala declared snakebite envenoming a Notifiable Disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, on 13 October 2025.

¨     As a notifiable disease, all cases must be systematically reported and monitored by health authorities.

¨     The SAPSE is based on the One Health approach.

¨     The One Health framework integrates human health, animal health, and environmental health.

¨     The plan involves the Health, Forest, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Education, Local Self-Government, and Wildlife departments.

¨     A multidisciplinary conclave held at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences on 13 February 2025 contributed to the development of the plan.

¨     The action plan includes surveillance of snakebite cases and deaths through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), Health Management Information System (HMIS), and the SARPA app.

¨     Hospitals will be mapped to identify red-flag hotspots, which will receive additional support.

¨     The plan also focuses on strengthening primary healthcare, improving referral hospitals, and expanding anti-snake venom (ASV) facilities in high-risk areas.