Now Reading: Snakebite cases surge, patients flock to Lucknow from districts
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Snakebite cases surge, patients flock to Lucknow from districts
A sharp rise in snakebite cases during the monsoon has driven at least 261 patients to three major government hospitals in Lucknow in July, data shows. RMLIMS saw 89 cases, a 71%…
The Story in Brief
A sharp rise in snakebite cases during the monsoon has driven at least 261 patients to three major government hospitals in Lucknow in July, data shows. RMLIMS saw 89 cases, a 71% jump from June, with 50 coming from Barabanki alone. KGMU Trauma Centre recorded 111 cases, most from outside Lucknow. Civil Hospital treated 61 patients, the majority local.
The influx raises concerns about district-level hospitals lacking enough anti-snake venom (ASV), infrastructure and trained staff to manage complications such as organ failure and blood-clotting disorders. Doctors stress that ASV alone is not sufficient; severe cases require higher-level care. Figures exclude Balrampur Hospital and Lok Bandhu Raj Narain Hospital, so the real number could be higher.
The Indian Opinion
The usual narrative that anti-snake venom is a magic cure ignores the reality that complications need doctors and equipment. Many districts appear to be sending patients to Lucknow not just for ASV but for intensive care. The question is whether Uttar Pradesh's district hospitals are being stocked and staffed properly. A test to watch for: whether the state government audits ASV stocks and emergency preparedness in every district hospital before next monsoon.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
