Synopsis: Kerala has formally declared snakebite a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, nearly six years after 10-year-old Shahla Sherin died from a venomous bite in her classroom. The move mandates systematic reporting and surveillance to improve data collection, timely treatment, and public health preparedness, particularly during the high-risk snake mating season.

Nearly six years after 10-year-old Shahla Sherin succumbed to a venomous snakebite inside her classroom in Sulthan Bathery, Kerala has formally declared snakebites a notifiable disease.

The State Health Department’s notification comes ahead of the snake mating season between October and December, a period during which over 70 percent of snakebite deaths occur, officials warned.

By mandating survei

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