Panic is spreading in Bangladesh since the venomous Russell's viper has been observed in various parts of the country in recent times, writes the Spanish news agency EFE.
All healthcare centres and hospitals in Bangladesh have been ordered to stock antivenom following reports of an increase in the number of snakebites across the country. Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen is urging Bangladeshis to seek medical attention as quickly as possible if they have been bitten, reports BBC.
As the snake feeds on rodents, Russell's viper is often found near settlements and agricultural land.
The species was declared extinct in the country in 2002, but has since returned – and is now increasing at an alarming rate.
According to researchers and wildlife experts, the increase is due to recurring floods, good food supply for the snake, and decreased predator populations. They believe the snake – which is a good swimmer – has spread through floodwaters.
Until 2016, the snake was found in 17 of the country's 64 districts. Now it lives in 25 districts.
Every year, around 400,000 people in Bangladesh are affected by snakebites and around 7,500 of them die, according to a government survey from 2023.
