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.