Snakes and One Health

Millions of people every year are envenomated by snakes in Asia with significant public health consequences. There are a number of challenges that complicate the management of snakebites. A poor understanding of the underlying biology and ecology of snakes is fundamental in limiting practical interventions to avoid snakebite envenomation. There is also little knowledge in how communities view snakes and how such perspectives may limit or encourage negative (or positive interactions) with snakes. A greater understanding of snake ecology and human ecology with respect to snakes can therefore inform snakebite envenomation policy and practice. We’ve been working to advance a One Health approach in mitigating the impacts of snake bites while also ensuring the conservation of threatened species.