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Incidence and mortality due to snakebite in the Americas
1CERPAGE, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin.
Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases
|June 22, 2017
Summary
Snakebite incidence in the Americas is estimated at 57,500 annually, with about 370 deaths. These figures are lower than previous estimates and can help improve snakebite management and antivenom distribution.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Snakebite data in the Americas often lacks precision and representativeness.
- Improved epidemiological knowledge is crucial for effective snakebite management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the incidence and mortality of snakebites in the Americas.
- To identify factors influencing snakebite occurrence and severity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized official health center notifications from Ministries of Health across American countries.
- Supplemented data with recent literature from PubMed for comprehensive analysis.
Main Results:
- Estimated average annual incidence of 57,500 snakebites (6.2 per 100,000 population).
- Estimated annual mortality of approximately 370 deaths (0.04 per 100,000 population).
- Incidence correlates with snake abundance (climate, habitat, population density); severity depends on snake species, size, and healthcare access.
Conclusions:
- While national health service data reliability is a limitation, findings show consistency across borders.
- Snakebite incidence may be underestimated due to traditional medicine use.
- Data reflects actual healthcare utilization, aiding antivenom management improvements.
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