Snakes have become a growing menace in Mirsarai, Chattogram, after the devastating flood. In the first nine months of this year, about 400 people have been bitten by snakes in the upazila's 16 unions and two municipalities, and one schoolboy has died. In the first seven months of 2024, 209 people were bitten, while 203 were injured in August and September alone because of the flood.
The boy who died of a snakebite was Simanta Nath, a class seven student at Zorarganj Adarsha High School and the son of Kanti Nath of Dewanpur village in Zorarganj union.
Since the flood, snakebite patients have been coming to the upazila health complex every day. Many go home after treatment, while those in serious condition are referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Month-by-month figures
According to the Mirsarai upazila health complex, 209 snakebite patients were treated at the hospital from January to July this year, while 203 were treated in August and up to 23 September. The monthly figures were two in January, nine in February, 16 in March, 36 in April, 45 in May, 29 in June and 70 in July, and 203 in August and September up to the 23rd. Mainly, the devastating floodwater in August brought venomous snakes into people's homes.
Besides the upazila health complex, many snakebite patients were treated at the neighbouring Sitakunda health complex and the Feni Sadar health complex.
Antivenom stocks
According to the health complex, a snakebite patient must be kept under observation for about 12 hours. Antivenom is needed if the venom spreads through the patient's body; given when it is not needed, antivenom does more harm than good. One dose is 10 vials, and a patient needs 10 vials of antivenom. The hospital currently has 20 vials in stock, which is low for the number of patients.
Dr Md Nasir Uddin, resident medical officer at the upazila health complex, said a snakebite victim should be taken to hospital immediately. "No time should be wasted going to an ojha or baidya. Only a doctor experienced in this can say, from the patient's symptoms, whether antivenom is needed," he said.
Mirsarai upazila health officer Dr Minhaj Uddin Rana said snakebite cases in Mirsarai had risen compared with before. There are usually more patients in the rainy season, but this time the flood has multiplied the number several times, he said.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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