Snake bites kill 100,000 annually: WHO

GENEVA - Bites from venomous snakes kill at least 100,000 people a year, with many countries lacking the drugs and capacity to deal with the threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday.

Some five million people are bitten by snakes each year. Most serious cases take place in poor rural communities and the victims are generally women, children and farmers.

According to the WHO, many countries do not have the correct anti-venoms for treating the bites, which leaves victims without recourse.

“Today, countries face a critical shortage of appropriate, safe and effective snake anti-venoms,” the WHO said, while announcing the launch of a new guidebook for treatment and a database of information.