Snakebite Surge and Antivenom Shortage Hit Matlab Uttar

A severe crisis involving snake infestations, a sharp rise in snakebite patients, and an acute shortage of antivenom has gripped Matlab Uttar upazila in Chandpur district. The region, which has a total population of more than four hundred thousand people, includes over fifty thousand residents living in remote char areas. Furthermore, the area features the sixty-kilometer-long Dhanagoda Irrigation Project, geographic factors that contribute significantly to the high incidence of human-snake encounters and subsequent bites.

According to official data, an alarming number of individuals are affected by this public health hazard annually. Specifically, more than four hundred people are victims of snakebites every year in Matlab Uttar upazila alone. To manage this heavy caseload, patients seek medical intervention across multiple local healthcare facilities. On average, more than twenty snakebite patients seek treatment every month directly at the Matlab Uttar Upazila Health Complex.

In addition to the patients treated at the primary upazila facility, neighboring hospitals also bear a significant portion of the burden. Four surrounding medical institutions—namely the Narayanganj District Sadar Hospital, Matlab Dakshin Upazila Health Complex, Chandpur District Sadar Hospital, and Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex—treat an average of more than fourteen additional snakebite patients every month from the same region.

Medical professionals have highlighted the seasonal nature and heightened risks associated with these reptiles. Dr. Mubarak Hossain explained the timing of the surge, stating, "In Bangladesh, snakebite incidents occur more frequently during the months of June, July, August, and October. This is because snakes are most active during this period for reproduction and hunting."

Addressing the treatment protocols and the severe administrative constraints, Dr. Rajon Kumar Das detailed the supply challenges faced by local practitioners. He noted, "Currently, there is a provision to preserve antivenom for a maximum of two patients at the upazila level. However, since the number of snakebite patients is higher in this upazila, we are struggling to arrange antivenom according to the demand."

Amidst these infrastructural limitations and the scarcity of medical antidotes, health experts are urging the public to avoid traditional and unverified healing methods. Emphasizing the need for immediate clinical intervention, Dr. Shahriar Hossain warned, "Patients must be taken to the hospital immediately upon being bitten by a snake. Going to an exorcist or a traditional healer wastes precious time, which can be fatal."