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Snakebite envenoming: a neglected health crisis | Collections | MSF Science Portal

Every year 2 million or more people fall victim to snakebite envenoming, mostly in poor, rural communities of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Between 83,000—138,000 of them die, while hundreds of thousands more suffer debilitating long-term complications or disabilities.


Although some antivenom medicines are highly effective when used promptly and appropriately, many snakebite victims get no treatment at all. Those who do may receive antivenoms which don’t work against the type of snake that bit them, or were not rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness.


To mark World Snakebite Awareness Day on September 19th, the Collection linked below brings together recent MSF work on this highly neglected disease. Several articles and conference presentations help fill evidence gaps on the burden of disease and its impacts or on treatment outcomes with specific antivenoms. Others examine how to tackle the formidable challenges of availability and affordability, the absence of regulatory oversight for making, testing and registering antivenoms, and the anemic R&D pipeline for new products—all of which impede access for patients to safe, effective treatment tailored to local snake species.

Collection Content

Conference Material
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Poster

Characteristics of children affected by snake bite and snake envenomation in Abs Hospital, Yemen

de Bartolome Gisbert F, Awad Alhatec MH, Hajaji A, Hindi A, Salem S,  et al.
2024-05-03 • MSF Paediatric Days 2024
2024-05-03 • MSF Paediatric Days 2024
Journal Article
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Research

Real life condition evaluation of Inoserp PAN-AFRICA antivenom effectiveness in Cameroon

Chippaux JP, Ntone R, Benhammou D, Madec Y, Noël G,  et al.
2023-11-08 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2023-11-08 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
BACKGROUND
Snakebites is a serious public health issue but remains a neglected tropical disease. Data on antivenom effectiveness are urgently needed in Africa. We assessed effectiven...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Availability, accessibility and use of antivenom for snakebite envenomation in Africa with proposed strategies to overcome the limitations

Dalhat MM, Potet J, Mohammed A, Chotun N, Tesfahunei HA,  et al.
2023-02-26 • Toxicon: X
2023-02-26 • Toxicon: X
Africa remains one of the regions with the highest incident and burden of snakebite. The goal of the World Health Organization to halve the global burden of snakebite by 2030 can only be...
Journal Article
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Research

A global core outcome measurement set for snakebite clinical trials

Abouyannis M, Esmail H, Hamaluba M, Ngama M, Mwangudzah H,  et al.
2023-02-01 • Lancet Global Health
2023-02-01 • Lancet Global Health
Snakebite clinical trials have often used heterogeneous outcome measures and there is an urgent need for standardisation. A globally representative group of key stakeholders came togethe...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Snakebite envenoming at MSF: A decade of clinical challenges and antivenom access issues

Potet J, Singh SN, Ritmeijer KKD, Sisay K, Alcoba G,  et al.
2022-12-21 • Toxicon: X
2022-12-21 • Toxicon: X
The medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides medical care in more than 70 countries and admits more than 7000 cases of snakebite in its facilities each y...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Understanding and tackling snakebite envenoming with transdisciplinary research

Gutiérrez JM, Borri J, Giles-Vernick T, Duda R, Habib AG,  et al.
2022-11-17 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2022-11-17 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Journal Article
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Review

Snakebite envenoming in humanitarian crises and migration: A scoping review and the Médecins Sans Frontières experience

Alcoba G, Potet J, Vatrinet R, Singh SN, Nanclares C,  et al.
2022-03-01 • Toxicon: X
2022-03-01 • Toxicon: X
Snakebite envenoming is a public health concern in many countries affected by humanitarian crises. Its magnitude was recognized internationally but associations between snakebite peaks a...
Journal Article
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Research

Treatment outcomes among snakebite patients in north-west Ethiopia—a retrospective analysis

Steegemans IM, Sisay K, Nshimiyimana E, Gebrewold G, Piening T,  et al.
2022-02-09 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
2022-02-09 • PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
BACKGROUND
Millions of people are bitten by venomous snakes annually, causing high mortality and disability, but the true burden of this neglected health issue remains unknown. Since...
Journal Article
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Review

Access to antivenoms in the developing world: a multidisciplinary analysis

Potet J, Beran D, Ray N, Alcoba G, Habib AG,  et al.
2021-10-26 • Toxicon: X
2021-10-26 • Toxicon: X
Access to safe, effective, quality-assured antivenom products that are tailored to endemic venomous snake species is a crucial component of recent coordinated efforts to reduce the globa...
Journal Article
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Commentary

Snakebites and COVID-19: two crises, one research and development opportunity

Martins D, Ribeiro I, Potet J
2021-10-25 • BMJ Global Health
2021-10-25 • BMJ Global Health
SUMMARY POINTS

• Despite inherent differences, Snakebite Envenoming and COVID-19 have much in common in terms of research and development (R&D) challenges and opportunities.

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MSF logo
Costs, cost-effectiveness, and financing of tuberculosis trea...

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's deadliest infectious disease, and the leading killer of people with HIV. TB is curable, but it can be difficult to diagnose and tough to treat, especially for increasingly prevalent drug-resistant TB. In 2023, 22,700 people started TB treatment in MSF programs. Understanding the costs and cost-effectiveness associated with TB treatment and innovations, ranging from TB diagnostics and medications to TB care models, can help to plan resource needs and allocate resources effectively. Analyzing financing mechanisms can support developing sustainable funding models for TB control.

This collection spotlights articles by MSF and collaborators to analyze and document the costs of care, particularly diagnostics and medications.

MSF logo
Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings

Globally, the number of older people is rapidly increasing, with those aged 60+ expected to more than double by 2050—yet in humanitarian crises, they remain one of the most neglected groups. Older adults often face higher risks due to chronic illnesses, mobility issues, and limited access to appropriate care, especially in low-resource or emergency settings. Despite these needs, humanitarian responses rarely prioritize them, and data on their health and mortality are often lacking.


This collection reflects MSF’s ongoing examination of its own data and practices to identify pathways toward more age-inclusive services in humanitarian crises. It includes analysis of data from MSF-supported mental health services, inpatient departments, and sexual violence services, and further offers several calls to action and reflections on why older people remain overlooked in humanitarian crises. However, MSF also acknowledges major challenges remain, including inadequate age-inclusive services, data gaps, and the need for more geriatric expertise.


Watch this space for more publications from a Lancet Healthy Longevity series on healthcare rights and needs of older people.


Poster gallery (MSF Scientific Days International 2022)
Poster gallery (MSF Scientific Days International 2022)
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Snakebite envenoming: a neglected health crisis

Snakebite envenoming: a neglected health crisis