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Health
Snakebite added to Maharashtra's list of notifiable diseases, reporting now mandatory
✍️ Amar Ujala · Maharashtra
🗓 19 Aug 2026, 09:35 AM
👁 23
The Maharashtra health department has classified snakebite as a notifiable disease, requiring immediate reporting of all cases across the state.
The state health authority in Maharashtra has officially designated snakebite as a notifiable disease under the state's public health surveillance framework. Health facilities, from primary health centres to tertiary hospitals, are now required to report every snakebite case to the state disease surveillance unit within 24 hours of admission.
The move aims to improve data collection on snakebite incidents, which have historically been under‑reported despite causing significant morbidity and mortality in rural areas. Accurate statistics will enable better allocation of antivenom stocks, targeted awareness campaigns, and faster medical response in high‑risk districts.
The notification order also mandates that medical practitioners fill out a standardized reporting form detailing the species involved, bite location, patient demographics, and treatment administered. Non‑compliance may attract penalties as per the state's public health regulations.
Health officials anticipate that the enhanced reporting mechanism will help the state meet national targets for reducing snakebite deaths and align with the World Health Organization's roadmap on neglected tropical diseases.
The directive was issued by the Maharashtra State Health Department in coordination with the National Centre for Disease Control, and will be implemented from the first of next month.
The move aims to improve data collection on snakebite incidents, which have historically been under‑reported despite causing significant morbidity and mortality in rural areas. Accurate statistics will enable better allocation of antivenom stocks, targeted awareness campaigns, and faster medical response in high‑risk districts.
The notification order also mandates that medical practitioners fill out a standardized reporting form detailing the species involved, bite location, patient demographics, and treatment administered. Non‑compliance may attract penalties as per the state's public health regulations.
Health officials anticipate that the enhanced reporting mechanism will help the state meet national targets for reducing snakebite deaths and align with the World Health Organization's roadmap on neglected tropical diseases.
The directive was issued by the Maharashtra State Health Department in coordination with the National Centre for Disease Control, and will be implemented from the first of next month.