Redefining Approaches to Mitigate Global Snakebite Burden in a Changing World: A Zoonotic Perspective

Snakebite envenoming constitutes a significant global public health crisis, with an annual incidence of up to 1.8 million cases and 20,000 to 100,000 deaths. Recent studies from Nepal and Kenya suggest that the actual burden of snakebites may be higher due to underreporting, as many people do not receive treatment at health centres. Snakebites are currently the only WHO listed non-infectious neglected tropical disease. Recent research indicates that modelling snakebite as a zoonosis provides a more mechanistic understanding and reliable predictions. This is because envenoming shares drivers with zoonotic diseases, such as land use change, agriculture, urban expansion, population growth, and climate change, leading to human-snake contact. However, the complex interplay between venomous snakes' ecology, anthropogenic land use, and climate change remains underexplored due to remote locations of envenoming's, underreporting, and societal stigmas.
This research project, "Redefining Approaches to Mitigate Global Snakebite Burden in a Changing World: A Zoonotic Perspective," endeavours to bridge this knowledge gap, in alignment with the strategy and core skills advocated by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This study poses fundamental research questions, exploring the ecological distribution, behaviour and abundance of venomous snakes, the impact of anthropogenic land use changes, and snakes' response to climate change. This is of importance as many snake species, such as vipers, are evolutionarily distinct species (EDGE) and appear on the IUCN red list. This study will also examine the influence of socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, education, and healthcare access, on snakebite incidence and burden, looking to find mitigation strategies that could be implemented at a community level, to lower the incidence of envenoming's.
Using a multidisciplinary "One Health" approach, encompassing ecological, environmental, and socioeconomic data analysis, ethnographic and ecological fieldwork, and spatial modelling, our research seeks to gain insights into snakebite burden. Through this the PhD candidate aims to develop expertise in big data analysis, interpretation, and multifaceted data analysis, including ecological, medical, and anthropological perspectives. As well as gaining skills in communication, public engagement and outreach, ethnographic and ecological fieldwork, and technological innovations.
Moreover, this study brings together findings from recent studies conducted in regions like Mozambique and Sri Lanka, providing essential context and highlighting the importance of preventive measures, such as protective clothing, education, and technological solutions. These community-driven strategies may effectively mitigate snakebite burden and reduce the socioeconomic impacts, which are especially prominent in rural regions. Additionally, the local context, including human behaviour and snake biology, plays a crucial role in designing effective preventative measures.
With the support of leading experts in conservation biology, anthropology, and OneZoo, along with collaboration from organizations like the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and 'On the Edge,' this project emphasizes community engagement and global perspectives. This project's expected outcomes include comprehensive insights into the intricate relationship between envenoming and snake ecology, land use, and climate change, along with the identification of practical, people-centred solutions to reduce snakebite burden and their effects on snake ecology, conservation, and distribution. This research contributes to the One Health and One Zoo CDT framework and addresses a global health crisis, resonating with conservation biology, public health, and climate change studies.