State aims to develop region-specific anti-venom suited to local snake species and reduce dependence on other states

Kolkata, July 25 (H.S.): The West Bengal government has initiated a major step towards producing Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) within the state. The Health Department has begun the process of preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for indigenous production of anti-snake venom, with the first high-level meeting on the project already held at Swasthya Bhavan.

Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said that, for the first time since Independence, a state government has taken concrete steps to make West Bengal self-reliant in the production of anti-snake venom. He noted that the biochemical composition, enzyme activity and toxicity of venom from venomous snakes found in West Bengal, including the Russell's viper, differ significantly from those of snakes found in southern India. As a result, anti-venom produced using venom from southern Indian snake species may not always provide the desired therapeutic response in patients from West Bengal.

The minister said the state-specific anti-venom project is essential considering West Bengal's unique geographical and ecological conditions. At present, the state depends largely on supplies from Telangana and Tamil Nadu, while the absence of local production for several years has often created challenges in timely availability.

The issue was also raised in the West Bengal Assembly during a calling attention motion by All India Secular Front (AISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. He pointed out that nearly 19.7 per cent of all snakebite deaths in India occur in West Bengal. Citing the National Health Profile, he said that more than 55,000 snakebite cases were reported across the country in 2025.

Siddiqui suggested that Bengal Chemicals, which had earlier manufactured anti-snake venom, could once again be entrusted with its production to help the state achieve self-reliance in this critical public health sector.

According to the Health Department, developing anti-snake venom tailored to the venom profile of snake species native to West Bengal would significantly improve treatment outcomes and help reduce snakebite-related fatalities in the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh