NAIROBI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- In Ikanga village, located in Kenya's Kitui County, 42-year-old farmer Agnes Mwikali vividly recalls the searing pain she felt when she accidentally stepped on a puff adder, one of Kenya's most venomous snakes.
Without immediate medical care, she turned to traditional remedies, which offered little relief. By the time she reached the nearest health center, more than 30 kilometers away, her leg was swollen and discolored. Though she survived, she now walks with a limp.
According to Lynn Kwitan, head of Kitui County's Public Health and Sanitation Department, the county records over 800 snakebite cases annually. Nationwide, Kenya experiences an estimated 20,000 snakebites each year, resulting in over 4,000 deaths and thousands of long-term disabilities.
Experts said that climate change and human expansion are bringing venomous snakes closer to people.
"Snakes are highly sensitive to environmental changes. When their habitats are destroyed or prey becomes scarce due to drought, they venture closer to human dwellings," said George Oluoch, deputy director at the Kenya Snakebite Research and Intervention Center (KSRIC).
In regions like Tana River and Kisumu, heavy rains displace snakes from their burrows, increasing the risk of bites. Meanwhile, in drought-stricken areas like Baringo and Turkana, humans and snakes compete for limited water sources, leading to more encounters.
Expanding human settlements further contribute to the problem. As forests and grasslands are cleared for agriculture and infrastructure, interactions between humans and snakes become more frequent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease, primarily affecting rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. The agency estimates that between 435,000 and 580,000 snakebite cases in Africa require treatment annually.
However, access to healthcare remains a major challenge. In remote areas, victims must travel long distances for treatment, only to find that antivenom is scarce and expensive. A single dose costs over 10,000 Kenyan shillings (about 77 U.S. dollars), and multiple doses are often required.
"Snakebite is a medical emergency," said Oluoch. "But in many rural communities, long distances, inadequate transport, and understaffed health facilities delay critical care."
Despite the challenges, Kenya is taking steps to address the issue. The KSRIC, in collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, is developing an East African antivenom to improve treatment accessibility.
Winnie Bore, founder of the Nairobi-based Snakebite Rescue, Rehabilitation and Research Center, emphasizes the need for better healthcare access, particularly in rural areas. "If we can improve care and response at the community level, we can save lives," she said.
The KSRIC and its partners are intensifying community education on snakebite prevention, first aid and the importance of seeking prompt medical attention. Technology is also playing a key role.
"Mobile apps and telemedicine solutions help community health volunteers consult specialists in real time," Oluoch said. "We are also exploring the use of drones to deliver antivenom to remote areas. This could significantly reduce the time it takes to get life-saving treatment to victims."
As Kenya works to improve antivenom accessibility, further research is needed to understand how climate change is influencing snake behavior and increasing human-snake interactions.
