Snakebite burden in Sub-Saharan Africa: estimates from 41 countries

Sadiq Halilu; Garba Iliyasu; Muhammad Hamza; Jean-Philippe Chippaux; Andreas Kuznik; Abdulrazaq G Habib

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.12.002

Snakebite burden in Sub-Saharan Africa: estimates from 41 countries

Toxicon. 2019 Mar 1:159:1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.12.002. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Authors

Sadiq Halilu¹, Garba Iliyasu¹, Muhammad Hamza¹, Jean-Philippe Chippaux², Andreas Kuznik³, Abdulrazaq G Habib⁴

Affiliations

¹ Infectious & Tropical Diseases Unit, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
² Institute of Research for Development, Paris, France.
³ Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA.
⁴ Infectious & Tropical Diseases Unit, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Electronic address: abdulrazaq_habib@yahoo.co.uk.

PMID: 30594637
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.12.002

Abstract

There is no reliable estimate of burden of snakebite-envenoming (SBE) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We derived from a meta-analysis the burden of SBE related deaths, amputations and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 41 countries in SSA. The annual burden was estimated at 1.03 million DALYs (95% Confidence Interval: 0.80-1.28 million DALYs). This is similar to or higher than the burden of many Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and the finding advocates for a commensurate resources allocation towards control of SBE.

Keywords: Burden; Disability adjusted life years; Snakebite; Sub-Saharan Africa.

MeSH terms

Africa South of the Sahara / epidemiology
Amputation, Traumatic / epidemiology
Amputation, Traumatic / etiology
Humans
Neglected Diseases / epidemiology
Snake Bites / complications
Snake Bites / epidemiology*
Snake Bites / mortality
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology