The number of snakes bites cases around the world is expected to increase during times of El Nino, according to a study published in the Science Advances journal on Friday. The authors estimate that this deadly problem will greatly affect poorer populations living in rural areas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that many people living in the rural communities of South and Southeast Asia as well as those in the sub-Saharan region of Africa are particularly vulnerable to this growing menace.

Like Us on Facebook

The mortality rate for snake bites in these areas are quite high because a large section of these people have little or no access to modern medical facilities. The only way to treat persons bitten by a poisonous snake is to give them anti-venom. This anti-venom is derived from venomous snakes and then processed to produce antibodies against the poison. The number of snake bite antidote produced, however, is not enough and the price is usually out of reach from the victims.

Costa Rica was used as a primary example in the study because all of its citizens are covered by health care and all snake bites cases are required to be reported to the health authorities. It is also located in the region where the effects of El Nino is being felt greatly.

It is during the hottest days of El Nino that many cases of snakes bites have occurred. The researchers theorize that warmer climate has made snakes venture away from their usual hunting grounds, increasing their likelihood to venture near or inside human settlements.

Nagasaki University Ecologist Luis Fernando Chaves, the study's lead author, said that not much attention is being focused on the impact of the ongoing threat - even if WHO has already acknowledged the severity of snake bites on the world's population.

Recent statistics shows that more than 2 million cases of snake bites occur every year. In almost half a million of those cases, the victims endured physical and life long damage. Some had to undergo amputation in order to prevent the snake venom from spreading to other vital parts of their body. Almost a hundred thousand people die from snake bites every year.

Tagssnake bite, snake venom, El Nino, global warming, costa rica, anti-venom, snake posion, snake antidote, neglected tropical disease, science advances