Maharashtra makes snakebite a notifiable disease after deaths

Maharashtra has declared snakebite a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all hospitals, medical colleges and healthcare professionals to report every suspected or confirmed case and death. Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said on Tuesday that the step would strengthen monitoring, ensure timely treatment and improve planning for anti-snake venom (ASV) availability.

The decision came days after three tribal schoolgirls died and three others were hospitalised following a venomous snake bite at a state government-aided residential school in Gadchiroli district on August 9. The government later cancelled the school's licence. Under the notification, serious or fatal cases must be reported immediately. A nodal mechanism from state to district level will oversee prevention and control.

Patient records will include bite details, treatment given and outcome. The government will study location and season factors to formulate local preventive measures. Abitkar had earlier told the state assembly that the government would consider a proposal to establish a regional snake venom collection bank. BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute noted that venom composition can vary across regions within the same species.