Nigeria Records 43,000 Snakebites Yearly Amid Antivenom Shortages

Experts warn of rising deaths as high costs, limited supply worsen public health crisis

Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria records an estimated 43,000 snakebite cases annually, a growing public health concern that health experts say is being aggravated by severe shortages and high costs of antivenom across the country.

Medical professionals and public health advocates have raised alarm that thousands of victims, particularly in rural communities, are unable to access timely and effective treatment, leading to preventable deaths and long-term disabilities.

Snakebites are most common in agrarian and hard-to-reach areas, especially during the rainy season when farming activities increase human contact with snakes. However, health facilities in these regions often lack antivenom, the only proven treatment for venomous snakebites.

According to health officials, the situation is worsened by the high cost of antivenom, which many rural dwellers cannot afford. In some cases, a single dose costs more than an average household’s monthly income, forcing victims to resort to traditional remedies or delay hospital treatment — actions doctors say can be fatal.

“Snakebite envenoming is a neglected public health emergency,” a public health expert said. “People are dying not because treatment doesn’t exist, but because it is unavailable, unaffordable, or too far away.”

Nigeria accounts for one of the highest snakebite burdens in sub-Saharan Africa, yet local production of antivenom remains limited, making the country heavily dependent on imports. Experts note that inconsistent supply chains, poor funding, and weak distribution systems have left many hospitals without stock.

Civil society groups and health professionals are calling on the Federal Government and state authorities to prioritise snakebite management by:

Increasing funding for antivenom procurement

Supporting local production of quality antivenom

Strengthening rural healthcare facilities

Training health workers in snakebite response

They also urged improved data collection, public awareness campaigns, and emergency response systems to reduce fatalities.

The World Health Organization has classified snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease, and stakeholders say Nigeria must align with global efforts to drastically reduce snakebite deaths by improving access to life-saving treatment.

As the debate continues, experts warn that without urgent intervention, thousands of Nigerians — mostly poor, rural farmers — will remain at risk from a crisis that is both preventable and treatable.