ASIA: Why snakebites matter

BANGKOK Wednesday, November 17, 2010 (IRIN) - Despite an age-old widespread fear and distrust of snakes, their bites have only recently been added to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of “neglected tropical diseases”. Snakes bite an estimated five million people each year worldwide, seriously injuring or disabling up to three million and killing an estimated 125,000, according to WHO and the Australian Venom Research Unit (AVRU).