# Global and regional snake envenoming crisis

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-regional-snake-envenoming-crisis
> Updated: 2026-11-01T12:31:19.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

In Togo, health officials report a significant public health challenge with 3,000 to 4,000 annual snake bite cases. Data from 2020 to 2025 shows 17,942 recorded cases and 268 deaths, during which 27,366 doses of antivenom serum were administered. To assist rural populations, the government has subsidized antivenom, reducing the cost per dose from 45,000 FCFA to 15,000 FCFA. Kokou Wotobé, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, emphasizes that bites must be treated as medical emergencies, warning against traditional practices like scarification or the use of tourniquets. Challenges remain regarding healthcare professional training and serum accessibility in peripheral centers.

On a global scale, new research involving 79 countries indicates the crisis is much larger than previously understood. A study from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine estimates that up to 7 million people are poisoned annually, with deaths ranging from 274,000 to 513,000 per year. Furthermore, over 800,000 survivors suffer permanent disabilities. 

A major data crisis persists, as more than half of the countries where venomous snakes pose a threat do not maintain accurate records. This is particularly acute in rural sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where victims often lack transportation or seek help from traditional healers. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most heavily affected region. Experts stress that country-specific mapping is a critical step toward meeting the World Health Organization’s target of halving snakebite mortality and disability by 2030.

## Timeline

### 2026-11-01: Global snakebite crisis causes up to 513,000 deaths annually

A study by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine estimates up to 513,000 annual deaths from snakebites, highlighting a massive global data gap and a health crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/global-snakebite-crisis-causes-up-to-513000-deaths-annually

### 2026-10-12: Snake envenoming identified as major global health crisis

A new study estimates up to 7 million snake envenomings and 500,000 deaths annually, identifying a massive global data gap and a severe public health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/snake-envenoming-identified-as-major-global-health-crisis

### 2026-09-24: Togo reports high rates of snake bites and fatalities

Togo reports thousands of annual snake bite cases, with 17,942 incidents and 268 deaths recorded between 2020 and 2025. The government has subsidized antivenom to improve rural medical access.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/togo-reports-high-rates-of-snake-bites-and-fatalities

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Cite as: Global and regional snake envenoming crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-regional-snake-envenoming-crisis