KANKE, Nigeria, Oct 6 – More than 50 people have been bitten by snakes in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State over the past three months, with at least three deaths and several survivors left with serious complications or permanent disabilities, a public health expert said on Tuesday.

Dr Tumka Bunshak Iliya, a public health specialist, said the incidents, concentrated among farmers, hunters and herders, had turned snakebite into a significant occupational hazard in the rural communities.

“While these figures require formal verification by the relevant health authorities, the reported situation is sufficiently alarming to warrant immediate intervention,” Iliya said in a statement.

Victims often live far from facilities equipped to treat severe envenoming. Limited stocks of anti-snake venom (ASV), shortages of trained staff, weak emergency transport and delayed referrals have contributed to poor outcomes, he added.

Snakebite can cause severe bleeding, paralysis, respiratory failure, kidney damage and extensive tissue destruction. The World Health Organization classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease and stresses the need for rapid access to effective antivenom and care.

Iliya called for a rapid epidemiological assessment to confirm the scale of the problem, the communities affected, the species involved where possible, and barriers to treatment. He urged the establishment of a dedicated snakebite treatment unit, preferably at General Hospital Kwal, stocked with quality-assured ASV and supported by trained personnel, laboratory services and a functional referral system.

He also recommended practical training for frontline health workers, a dedicated emergency ambulance service, community education on prevention and first-aid, and rehabilitation support for survivors with disabilities.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Plateau State Government have previously acknowledged snakebite as a public health challenge and reported efforts to improve antivenom access. Iliya said the priority now is ensuring those measures reach communities in Kanke without delay.

“Kanke cannot wait. Every delay may cost a life, a limb or a livelihood,” he said.

Symptoms of snakebite vary widely depending on whether the snake is venomous, the type of venom (neurotoxic, hemotoxic, cytotoxic, or mixed), the amount injected, the location of the bite, and the person’s size and health. Not every bite injects venom (these are called “dry bites”).

Local symptoms (around the bite site)

These often appear first:

One or two puncture marks (fang marks)

Pain (can range from mild to severe and rapid)

Swelling and redness

Bruising or discoloration

Blistering

In some cases (especially certain vipers and cobras), progressive tissue damage or necrosis (death of skin and underlying tissue)

Systemic symptoms (affecting the whole body)

These can develop within minutes to several hours:

Neurotoxic effects (common with many cobras, mambas, and some other elapids):

Drooping eyelids (ptosis)

Double or blurred vision

Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or opening the mouth

Muscle weakness progressing to paralysis

Breathing difficulty or respiratory failure

Hemotoxic / clotting effects (common with many vipers):

Bleeding from the gums, nose, or other sites

Blood in urine, vomit, or stool

Easy bruising or prolonged bleeding from the wound

Internal bleeding in severe cases

Other possible symptoms:

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain

Sweating, dizziness, or fainting

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Low blood pressure or shock

Kidney injury (reduced urine output or dark urine)

Headache, confusion, or drowsiness

Important notes

Symptoms can start almost immediately or be delayed for several hours.

Anxiety and fear after a bite can cause sweating, rapid heartbeat, and nausea even without envenoming.

Children, the elderly, and people with underlying health conditions are often more severely affected.

Snakebite is a medical emergency. If you or someone else is bitten:

Keep the person calm and still.

Immobilise the bitten limb (do not apply tourniquets, cut the wound, or try to suck out venom).

Get to a hospital or health facility that can provide antivenom and supportive care as quickly as possible.

This is general information based on medical sources including WHO guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Only trained healthcare workers can properly assess and treat a snakebite.