health
Risk of snakebites increasing as reptiles adapt to changing world, says study
Research led by WHO predicts hotter climate will lead to more contact between humans and venomous snakes
TL;DR
- Climate disruption and landscape change are increasing the risk of snakebites worldwide.
- Many venomous snake species are shifting their habitats to cope with rising temperatures.
- While most species may suffer habitat decline, some of the deadliest are likely to spread more widely into new areas.
- Globally, there are approximately 4 million snakebite cases annually, resulting in 138,000 deaths and 400,000 disabilities.
- The study mapped the distributions of 508 medically important snake species and projected how rising temperatures would alter their overlap with human populations by 2050 and 2090.
- The greatest risk is to the snakes themselves, with many species potentially pushed closer to extinction.
- Shifts in snake ranges may lead to increased encounters in areas unaccustomed to specific threats, such as cottonmouth moccasins moving north in the US or kraits migrating in China.
- The study provides data to help health authorities target resources, stockpile antivenoms, and improve healthcare accessibility in at-risk communities.