On Snakebite Awareness Day, Bharat Serums & Vaccines Limited (BSV) Reaffirms Commitment to Saving Lives through Awareness and Action

Bengaluru, September 19, 2025: On the occasion of Snakebite Awareness Day, Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited (BSV), a Mankind Group Company, and a leader in bite management & women's health, reinforces its commitment towards advancing awareness on seeking immediate medical attention for snakebite incidents across India.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) nearly 4.5-5.4 million people are bitten by snakes annually worldwide, with between 1.8-2.7 million cases resulting in envenomation. Snakebites remain a major public health crisis in India, with the country bearing the highest burden globally.

In India, there are almost 300 different snake species, but WHO points out that only the ‘big four’ snake species (Common Krait, Indian Cobra, Russell's Viper, and Saw Scaled Viper) account for the majority of deaths that occur across the country. Understanding how to avoid the venomous snakes is one of the best ways to prevent snakebites.

On the other hand, according to the Standard Treatment Guidelines (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India) and NAPSE- snakebite is severely underreported, with only 20-30% of snakebite victims in rural India seeking hospital treatment. Government of India's official reports capture only one-tenth of actual deaths, highlighting a critical awareness gap. Further, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare designated snakebite as a 'notifiable disease' in November 2024, making it mandatory for all health facilities to report suspected cases.

On this occasion, Sivani Sarma Deka, COO-India Business, Bharat Serums & Vaccines Limited stated, “As a market leader in anti-snake venom, BSV has been at the forefront of developing and bringing quality and effective treatments for snakebites.  Snakebite deaths could be prevented by enhancing understanding, building awareness and educating communities on snakebites as well as ensuring wider access and availability of treatments across the country.  Our public health initiative ‘#Saanp Ka Vaar, Aspatal Mein Hi Upchaar’ reaffirms our efforts towards educating and building awareness among communities, using national, local, traditional and digital media across languages. Noted celebrity Shri. Amitabh Bachchan has also been a part of the campaign and amplified this public health message. On Snakebite Awareness Day, we reiterate our commitment of bringing our lifesaving treatments and urging collective action to save lives from snakebites.”

Adding to this, Dr. Prateek Sinha, MBBS (Hons.), DNB (Paediatrics), FIAP (Neonatology), PGPN (Boston Univ., USA), Consultant Neonatologist & Paediatrician, “It is critical to build awareness on snakebites and ensure that we collaborate with multiple stakeholders and bring targeted interventions amplifying education on prevention, first aid and immediate medical treatment in order to bust the myths that surround snakebite management.  There is also a pressing need to address gaps in the availability of snake antivenom and medical care.  On this Snakebite Awareness Day, let us work together towards encouraging community participation in prevention efforts.”

As a responsible market leader in anti-snake venom, BSV has been at the forefront of raising awareness on the dangers of untreated snakebites and the need for right and timely treatment. Its nationwide public health campaign “Saanp ka Vaar, Aspatal Me Hi Upchar” continues to strengthen preparedness and drives home the message that every snakebite requires immediate hospital care. Ahead of the monsoons, BSV has been creating awareness through specially curated, easy-to-read educational comic strips in several languages, on-ground activations, street plays, in-school awareness sessions, education sessions for agriculturalists, radio outreach, and specialized snakebite management training modules for healthcare and medical professionals.