Thread by @WHO

Today is #SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

Venomous #snakebite is a potentially life-threatening disease due to venom poisoning following the bite of a venomous 🐍.
It can also be caused by having the snake venom sprayed into the eyes bit.ly/Ssssnake

About 5 million #snakebites occur every year.
That's almost 7,400 people EVERY DAY who are bitten by 🐍
More than half are by poisonous snakes and cause potentially life-threatening conditions.

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho Venomous #snakebite 🐍 causes as many as 400,000 amputations and other permanent disabilities

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho Children often suffer more severe effects from venomous #snakebite 🐍 than adults and often become disabled or die because of their smaller body mass.

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho Rural cropping and livestock workers, hunter/gathers and their children are among the most affected by venomous #snakebite 🐍
Lack of footwear contributes significantly to the risk of snakebite 🐍

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho A majority of #snakebite 🐍 injuries are among young, working-age men and women.
Venomous snakebite can make them disabled and prevent them from earning an income, making them a lifelong financial burden for their family members.

#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho Venomous #snakebite 🐍 is a serious public health problem in rural areas of tropical and sub-tropical countries in Africa, the Middle-East, Asia, Oceania and Latin America.
There, the risk of snakebite is a daily concern, especially for rural and peri-urban communities

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho Many #snakebites 🐍 go unreported, often because victims seek treatment from non-medical sources or do not have access to health care

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho 80% of all snakebites 🐍 occur on the legs or feet, below the knee.
#Snakebites can be prevented when people have access to cheap, practical and protective footwear

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho Snakes are typically shy creatures that spend most of their time hiding.
Cleaning up and keeping the grass short in areas in close proximity to dwellings, along pathways, and in places where children play, are measures that can reduce the likelihood of #snakebites 🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho To prevent #snakebites 🐍 at night, use a light when walking outside in areas where some snakes forage after dark.

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOAFRO @WHOSEARO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHO_Europe @pahowho Sealing houses so that snakes cannot enter can help to prevent #snakebites, but if this is not possible, the simple act of sleeping on a raised platform with a well-tucked in mosquito net can prevent not only mosquito-borne diseases but also snakebites 🐍
#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

Q: What should I do if someone is bitten by a poisonous snake 🐍?
A: Immobilize the bitten person and keep them from moving around at all.
Seek medical care without delay.
If possible place them on their side to help protect their airway and breathing
#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

Snake antivenoms are effective treatments to prevent or reverse most of the harmful effects of venomous #snakebite

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

Snake antivenoms are included in the WHO Essential Medicines List and should be part of any primary health care package where #snakebites occur 🐍

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#SnakebiteAwarenessDay🐍

@WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @pahowho @WHOSEARO @WHOAFRO @WHO_Europe Many people either lack access to snake antivenoms or cannot afford to pay for them. Many families sell possessions or go into debt in order to obtain antivenom after someone is bitten by a poisonous snake 🐍

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