23 die of Russell's Viper bites at RMCH in 18 months

At least 23 people died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) after being bitten by Russell's Viper in the last 18 months.

This year's total tally of deaths from Russell's Viper bites stood at five until June 25 against 18 fatalities in 2023, according to the statistics from RMCH.

A total of 362 snake-bitten patients were admitted to the hospital in 2023. Of them, 43 people, including the 18 patients bitten by the highly venomous snake, died.

In 2024 till now, 315 snake-bitten people were hospitalized of whom 13 patients, including five bitten by Russell's Vipers, died, according to local media reports. 

Recently, Health and Family Welfare Minister Samanta Lal Sen advised the public not to panic over the venomous Russell’s viper snakes.

He held a virtual meeting with civil surgeons, family planning officers, divisional directors, medical college hospital directors, and other health department officials across the country on Saturday.

In the meeting, he discussed snakebite incidents and the Russell’s Viper sightings reported in several regions.

However, it has now spread across some 28 districts of the country via the Padma waterway, with numbers steadily increasing.