Nigeria Records 43,000 Snakebites, 2,500 Deaths Annually - Experts Warn Against Harmful First Aid

Nigeria records an estimated 43,000 snakebite cases annually, resulting in between 1,099 and 2,500 deaths, with experts identifying delayed hospital treatment, harmful first aid practices and the high cost of antivenom as major factors contributing to fatalities.

The experts, who raised the concern at a national training workshop on snakebite handling, treatment and management at the Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos, on Tuesday, urged Nigerians to avoid handling snakes and seek immediate medical attention whenever bitten.

A medical expert, Abubakar Ballah, described snakebite as a neglected tropical disease, identifying the carpet viper as responsible for approximately 66 per cent of snakebite-related deaths in Nigeria.

Ballah, citing estimates by the World Health Organisation (WHO), said about 5.4 million snakebites occur globally each year, resulting in between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths and approximately 400,000 cases of permanent disability.

He identified Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue and Taraba as major snakebite-endemic states, particularly within the Niger-Benue trough and Sudan Savanna.

According to him, farmers, herders, children and hunters are among the most vulnerable groups, with snakebite incidents frequently increasing during farming, rainy and harvest seasons.

Ballah identified the carpet viper, puff adder and black-necked spitting cobra as Nigeria’s three medically important snake species, explaining that their venom could cause severe bleeding, tissue destruction, kidney injury, neurological complications and respiratory paralysis.

He warned that delayed presentation at hospitals and inappropriate first aid could worsen victims’ conditions, identifying practices such as applying tight tourniquets, cutting bite wounds, using animal dung and resorting to traditional remedies as dangerous.

Citing clinical cases, Ballah said some patients had died following delayed treatment and harmful first aid, while others survived after early hospital presentation and appropriate medical intervention.

He further identified the high cost of antivenom, inadequate healthcare access, poor road networks and insufficient blood bank services as major challenges affecting snakebite management in the country.

According to him, a vial of antivenom costs between ₦170,000 and ₦250,000, making access to life-saving treatment difficult for many victims.

He stressed that antivenom should only be administered by trained healthcare professionals when clinically indicated, with patients closely monitored for allergic reactions and other complications.

The medical expert called for improved access to quality antivenom, proper storage facilities, effective referral systems and sustained community education to reduce snakebite-related deaths.

In a separate presentation titled, “Dangerous Snakes of Lagos State, Nigeria,” wildlife conservation expert, Dr Mark Ofua, cautioned residents against attempting to catch, kill or handle snakes whenever they encounter them.

Ofua explained that snake encounters could occur in mangroves, swamps, farms, gardens, building sites, drainage channels, residential compounds and stores.

He advised residents to exercise caution in such environments and leave snake handling to trained personnel equipped with appropriate tools and protective equipment.

He identified the puff adder, black-necked spitting cobra, forest cobra, green mamba and Gaboon viper among the snake species requiring particular attention in Lagos State.

Ofua also discussed the boomslang and carpet viper, noting that the presence of some species, particularly the carpet viper, required further confirmation through local records.

He cautioned against identifying dangerous snakes solely by their head shape, pupils, colour or size, explaining that some venomous species could be difficult to recognise.

He added that protective equipment did not completely eliminate the risk of snakebites, urging residents to avoid unnecessary contact with the reptiles.

On immediate response to snakebites, Ofua advised victims to remain calm and still, immobilise the affected limb, remove tight items around the bitten area and proceed immediately to a hospital.

He warned against cutting or sucking the wound, applying tourniquets, using traditional remedies or attempting to chase and kill the snake.

For cases involving venom spat into the eyes, he recommended immediate and prolonged washing with clean water.

Both experts emphasised that public awareness, prompt hospital treatment and safer interactions with wildlife were essential to reducing snakebite injuries and fatalities.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr Joseph Onoja, highlighted the ecological importance of snakes, noting that they played significant roles in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem balance.

Onoja explained that snakes helped control rodent populations, warning that an uncontrolled increase in rodents could heighten the risk of infections such as Lassa fever.

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“It becomes important that we learn to live as one in harmony with nature and more specifically snakes,” he said.

The two-day national training workshop, scheduled for October 27 and 28, focuses on strengthening knowledge and improving professional capacity in snakebite handling, treatment and management.