Improving the control of snakebite envenomation in Latin America and the Caribbean: a discussion on pending issues

Abstract

Snakebite envenomations represent a public health problem of great impact, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and some regions of Oceania.1 They predominantly affect people living in impoverished rural agricultural settings. Historically snakebite has received little attention from health authorities, research agendas, pharmaceutical companies and health advocacy groups. However, a growing awareness of the seriousness of these envenomations has developed in recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) incorporated snakebite envenomation as a category A disease in its list of neglected tropical diseases and is developing an integrated global road map to confront it. Moreover, a resolution was adopted in May 2018 by the 71st World Health Assembly that gives WHO a strong mandate to develop comprehensive actions for improving the prevention and management of these envenomations on a global scale.2 In Latin America and the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is building a regional plan to confront this neglected disease. The main pending issues to deal with snakebite envenomation in this region are discussed in this editorial, with the aim of highlighting areas where urgent actions are required.