SARLAHI, July 5: Cases of snakebite have increased in the wake of rising temperature in the district of late.
Snakebite Treatment Centre located at Nawalpur of Lalbandi Municipality-1informed that the number of people suffering snakebite was recorded more than the previous year. A health assistant at the Centre, Jagannath Yadav, informed that till the first week of July this year, they witnessed 305 people visiting the facility for snakebite treatment. Comparatively, it is higher than the past year of the same time, he added.
Centre's chairman Uddhav Paudel said, "Three to seven persons visit the Centre everyday for treatment. Generally, the cases of snakebite are high from January to September."
Snakebite menace in Bardibas
The poisonous snakes which hide in bushes and holes leave their habitats during hotter times. At night, the snakes search for prey. The reptiles attack humans if they encounter them during prey time. The snakes however do not search for humans as prey. When it feels being at risk by humans, it attacks in defense, Paudel added.
As per Centre's data, in the Nepali month of Falgun (Feb/March), there were 17 cases, while 47 in Chaitra (March/April), 65 in Baisakh (April/May), 85 in Jestha (May/June) and 91 till date (June/July). Three persons bitten by venomous common krait were sent to Janakpur for further treatment, while others provided treatment here itself, according to Yadav.
However, many people visit with snakebite of less venom. Among those visiting the facility, five to seven percent are found with venom spread across the body parts. Nearly 15 to 20 percent of people visit the Centre with dry bites.
The Centre has two MBBS doctors, three HA, two CMA and a health technician from the Nepali Army.
Some people lose their lives because of practicing shamanism when they suffer snakebite, the medical people said.
