Jharkhand declares snakebite notifiable disease

Jharkhand has declared snakebite a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all government and private health institutions to report every case and death.

The decision was notified by the Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department through Notification No. 21-NHM(HD)-12-04/2025-28(21) dated March 2.

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Officials said the move is aimed at improving surveillance, treatment response and data collection in a state where snakebite cases rise during the monsoon and humid summer months, particularly in rural, tribal and agricultural areas.

Health authorities said under-reporting and delayed treatment have remained major concerns, especially in remote regions where many victims still rely on traditional healing practices instead of seeking immediate medical care.

Under the new framework, all health institutions, including private hospitals, medical colleges, corporate healthcare providers, railway, army and AYUSH institutions, will be required to maintain records of snakebite cases and upload them through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme’s Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP).

Institutions have also been directed to maintain a dedicated register and submit fortnightly reports to the Civil Surgeon by the fifth and 20th of every month. District authorities will then send consolidated reports to the department by the 10th of each month.

Officials said the objective is to generate reliable district-level data, identify high-risk areas and improve planning for anti-snake venom supply, emergency response and public awareness.

The move aligns with the Government of India’s National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming 2030, which aims to reduce snakebite-related deaths and disability by 50 per cent.

Jharkhand had already initiated a snakebite prevention and control programme in the 2024-25 financial year, under which anti-snake venom availability was to be ensured from medical colleges to primary health centres.

Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh has directed compliance with the National Snakebite Management Protocol and said awareness efforts would be intensified at the community level.

The notification has come into immediate effect, and institutions failing to comply with the reporting requirement may face action under the applicable provisions.