Annual health report from the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

India Declares Snakebites Notifiable to Eliminate Underreporting, Led by Health Ministry

Nov 29, 2024, 05:31 PM

The Indian central government has declared snakebite cases and deaths as a 'notifiable disease,' aiming to eliminate underreporting and improve public health measures. This decision, led by the health ministry, requires all government and private health facilities to report such cases under relevant provisions of state public health acts or other applicable legislation. Tamil Nadu had already taken a similar step earlier on November 6, 2024, by declaring snakebite envenoming a notifiable disease under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act of 1939. The move is part of broader efforts to enhance healthcare responses and ensure accurate data collection on snakebite incidents across the country.