• Central government is aiming to prevent deaths by rabies and snake bites, has asked states to procure anti-snake venom serum
• 1,064 people died of snake bites while 86 people died of rabies in 2016
• West Bengal ranks the highest amongst the states to have witnessed these instances

New Delhi, August 07, 2017: Aiming to prevent deaths caused by rabies and snake bites, the Central Government is implementing the National Rabies Programme and has directed states to procure anti-snake venom serum under National Health Mission (NHM), parliament was told on Friday.

"For prevention of deaths due to rabies, Government is implementing the National Rabies Control Programme in the country. States have also been asked to procure anti-snake venom serum under NHM," Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

In 2016, 1,064 people died of snake bites in India, while 86 people died of rabies.

West Bengal reported the highest deaths by both snake bites and rabies – 138 and 47 respectively.

Rabies is transmitted to the humans following the bite of animals like dogs, cats, monkeys, mongoose, and so on infected by rabies virus.

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"The states are asked to organize training of health professional on animal bite management and ID route of anti-rabies vaccination, communication activities for community awareness on do's and don'ts in the event of an animal bite, strengthening surveillance of human rabies and strengthening lab diagnostics for rabies," said Patel. (IANS)