Kenya faces a growing public health crisis as snakebite cases rise, with thousands, mostly rural Africans, dying or suffering inestimable injuries annually. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 138,000 people globally die from snakebites annually. At least 400,000 people suffer lasting physical injuries from these lethal interactions. Even more alarmingly, the WHO admits that these figures are probably a “gross underestimation.” An estimated 70% of all snakebite cases are never reported.
Each year, an estimated 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes worldwide. About half of these cases result in venom-induced lifethreatening poisoning. In Kenya, though, we’ve got to get real. The country only gets 10,000–30,000 vials of antivenom each year, when in fact officials estimate the country needs closer to 100,000 vials annually to sufficiently treat those affected. This gap is a reflection of a major problem. We need to scale up the production and distribution of antivenom to meet the world’s increasing snakebite burden.
The Personal Impact of Snakebites
The impacts of snakebites go far beyond just the physical injury. Ruth Kintalel lived through every parent’s nightmare when a red spitting cobra bit her in the sleep. As a consequence, she was in the hospital for more than five months recovering. Though she survived the ordeal, seven years later, she still lives with paralysis in her right arm. Kintalel’s experience highlights the dramatic, acute impact of snakebites and the chronic effect they can have due to disabilities induced by snakebites.
Similarly, other victims like Shukurani, who was bitten by a puff adder—one of the most common snakes in sub-Saharan Africa—illustrate the urgency for effective antivenom solutions. These individual narratives shed light on the physical cost and psychological impact, as well, of snakebites. Kyle Buster Ray emphasizes this aspect, stating, “Someone has watched their limb completely rot… there’s a lot of mental trauma.”
Efforts to Develop Effective Antivenom
USC researchers and other institutions are gearing up to meet the increasing demand for accessible snakebite therapies. They’re focusing their efforts to improve antivenom formulations more suited to regional snake species. The Snakebite Research and Intervention Center was established in 2017 and is operating out of the Kenya Institute of Primate Research. Their mission is to produce antivenom tailored to the different snake species of Kenya.
Valentine Musabyimana, a researcher at the center, notes their ambitious goal: “We are aiming for an antivenom where a patient will require only one vial with great potency.” This innovation represents an important step toward ensuring wider availability of treatment with improved outcomes for those impacted by snakebites.
Leading the charge is Watamu’s Snake Farm which hosts more than 400 venomous and non-venomous snakes. Our farm’s mission is to restore faith in the power of antivenom. They do this by obtaining venom from only native species. Ray cautions against the practice of using snakes from other provinces, as it can reduce antivenom efficacy. This practice could additionally cause extreme negative reactions, despite the fact that the snakes are of the same species.
Bridging the Gap in Antivenom Availability
While these steps are long overdue progress, the current antivenom supply is still lacking. The Kenyan government acknowledges this gap and is looking into subsidies to ensure new antivenom is affordable and accessible. This new generation antivenom will finally hit the market in approximately two years. It could deliver that more timely, less resource-dependent treatment snakebite victims desperately need.
Researchers are working to proactively make antivenoms more effective, affordable, and safer. Simultaneously, public health efforts need to address the rising incidence of snakebites. The partnerships among regulatory agencies, research universities, and the community at large will continue to be essential in addressing this public health emergency.