Scientific institutions unite to develop antivenom for Northeast India’s venomous snakes

In response to the urgent need for more effective snakebite treatments in Northeast India, scientific institutions have come together in a collaborative effort to develop region-specific antivenom.

Led by Dr HT Lalremsanga of Mizoram University, researchers from multiple institutions including Aaranyak, the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and Premium Serums and Vaccines, Pune, are pooling their expertise to create an improved antivenom formulation, as reported by East Mojo.

It has been reported that the current antivenom, primarily effective against the venom of the “Big Four” snakes (Spectacled cobra, Saw-scaled viper, Russell’s viper, and Common krait), has proven inadequate in neutralizing the venom of many snake species prevalent in the Northeast region.

It is estimated that snakebite incidents in the Northeast occur at a rate of about 10,000 cases annually, often resulting in severe clinical conditions due to delayed or inadequate treatment. The lack of region-specific antivenom exacerbates the situation, leading to prolonged hospital stays and socio-economic burdens on victims and their families.

Dr Lalremsanga emphasized the critical need for a tailored solution to combat the venomous snakes unique to this area. The collaborative research aims to address these challenges by developing an antivenom capable of effectively neutralizing the venom of Northeast India’s diverse snake population.

MTNews Desk