FREQUENCY AND STATISTICS OF SNAKE BITE
Global evaluation of snakebites
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|
| Landmasses |
Population (x106) |
Total number of bites |
No. of envenomations |
No. of fatalities |
| Europe |
730 |
25,000 |
8,000 |
30 |
| Middle East |
160 |
20,000 |
15,000 |
100 |
| USA and Canada |
310 |
45,000 |
6,500 |
15 |
Central and South
America |
400 |
300,000 |
150,000 |
5,000 |
| Africa |
760 |
1,000,000 |
500,000 |
20,000 |
| Asia |
3,500 |
4,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
100,000 |
| Oceania |
20* |
10,000 |
3,000 |
200 |
| Total |
5,840 |
5,400,000 |
2,682,500 |
125,345 |
|
 *Population at risk |
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|
The national average of USA is roughly 4 bites per 100,000 persons.
In India, 250,000 snakebites are recorded in a single year with as many as 50,000 recorded initial deathsA late 1950s study estimated that 45,000 snakebites occur each year in the United States. Despite this large number, only 7,000 to 8,000 of those snakebites are actually caused by venomous snakes, resulting in an average of 10 deaths. This puts the chance of survival at roughly 499 out of 500.
Some estimates put the number at 2.5 million bites per year throughout the Globe, resulting in perhaps 125,000 deaths.
Worldwide, snakebites occur most frequently in the summer season when snakes are active and humans are outdoors.
Agricultural and tropical regions report more snakebites than anywhere else.
Victims are typically male and between 17 and 27 years of age. |
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