Snakebite crisis: Kenya joins WHO plan to reduce 138,000 global deaths
Agricultural workers and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of snakebites.
Kenya is stepping up efforts to tackle snakebite injuries and deaths by focusing on strengthening health systems and boosting local antivenom production.
The Ministry of Health highlighted the growing threat during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, where Kenya joined other countries committed to combating snakebite envenoming, a neglected tropical disease responsible for over 100,000 deaths worldwide each year.
At a high-level event hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, emphasized the country’s dedication to improving the readiness of health facilities and training health workers to respond effectively to snakebite cases.
She stressed that many deaths occur because rural and underserved communities lack access to timely and effective treatment.
"Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that claims more than 100,000 lives each year," Muthoni said.
"Ending preventable deaths from snakebites is not only achievable, it is a moral imperative."
Kenya’s strategy includes increasing the local production of antivenoms, which will help ensure faster and more reliable access to this lifesaving treatment.
This is crucial in rural areas where delays in treatment often lead to serious complications, including permanent disabilities. The move also aims to reduce dependence on imported antivenoms, which can be costly and difficult to obtain.
The WHO report presented at the assembly reveals the full scale of the problem: an estimated 5.4 million snakebites occur globally every year, with up to 2.7 million cases involving severe venom effects.
Between 81,000 and 138,000 people die annually, while many others face amputations and lifelong disabilities.
Agricultural workers and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of snakebites.
"Children often suffer more severe effects than adults, due to their smaller body mass," WHO noted.
In Kenya alone, approximately 4,000 people die from snakebites annually, and around 7,000 others experience long-term health complications, according to the Institute of Primate Research.
These statistics highlight the urgent need for coordinated action to reduce the human and economic toll of snakebites.
Kenya’s involvement in the WHA78 and its collaboration with countries like Costa Rica, Egypt, and Ghana reflect a growing global commitment to the WHO’s Strike Out Snakebite (SOS) initiative.
The initiative seeks to increase access to antivenoms and strengthen treatment systems to meet targets set for 2030.
Kenya’s approach, focusing on local solutions and healthcare capacity building, sets a model for tackling this overlooked public health challenge.
