610 people have been bitten by snakes from February to July 1 this year and 38 people have died due to snake bites in the same period, said the Health Department. This information was given in a press conference organized on public awareness about Russell’s Viper at the Directorate of Health in Mohakhali, capital, on Wednesday. The information was presented by the line director of the non-communicable disease control branch of the Department of Health. Robed Amin.

He said that a total of 416 patients were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from January till now due to snake bites. Among them, 91 people were bitten by poisonous snakes; Out of which 18 are Russell’s Vipers (Chandrabora). Of these, a total of 11 patients died, of which five died due to the sting of the moon beetle.

In the press conference, it was informed that in recent times, various theories, information, rumors and fear prevailed all over the country about Russell’s viper. Snakebite is recognized as a recognized important public health problem in principle in Bangladesh. According to the national survey conducted in 2022, more than 400,000 people in Bangladesh were victims of snakebite. Out of which, unfortunately, around 7,500 people died. Despite the lack of information on snakes, the major venomous snakes include the gokhra, krait (Kalach), Chandrabora or Russell’s viper and the green snake. There are also reports of some sea snake bites.

Chandrabora is a venomous snake of viperid group. The existence of Chandrabora in Bangladesh and the history of death due to its sting was recognized as early as 1920. In 2013, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital recorded the first report of Chandrabora or Ulubora snake bite. Initially, its impact was seen more in Rajshahi and Barendra regions, but later on, the spread of Chandrabora gradually spread to 27 districts.