Coastal Karnataka recorded 954 snakebite cases in the first nine months of 2026, with Dakshina Kannada reporting 448 cases and Udupi 506, prompting health authorities to urge residents to avoid home remedies and reach hospitals quickly for medical assessment.
The cases were reported amid what officials described as a sharp increase in snakebites across Karnataka. The state recorded 16,805 cases in 2025, compared with 6,596 in 2023. Snakebite-related deaths in Karnataka have reached 277 since 2023, including 191 fatalities by mid-October this year, according to the report.
Dr Naveenchandra Kulal, surveillance officer for Dakshina Kannada district, said health authorities had observed a significant rise in cases since 2024. He said the district’s medical facilities were treating an average of nearly 600 snakebite cases each year, with cases reported to have increased by 50% to 60% since 2024.
Officials linked part of the risk to snakes entering human habitats while seeking shelter during cold and rainy weather. Damp and grassy areas can provide cover, and residents have been advised to exercise particular caution when walking or working in such locations.
The public-health response depends not only on preventing bites but also on ensuring that people reach equipped medical facilities without delay. Health authorities said government hospitals maintain anti-venom stocks and advised residents to seek immediate treatment after a suspected bite rather than rely on unscientific traditional remedies.
Dr Kulal also cautioned that a bite from a venomous snake does not always result in venom entering the body. Such incidents are commonly known as dry bites, but determining whether venom has been transmitted requires medical evaluation. He said even bites by venomous snakes such as cobras may sometimes occur without venom entering the person’s body, making examination by doctors essential.
Authorities have also warned against administering anti-venom without professional assessment because the injection can cause potential side-effects. The advice is intended to ensure that treatment is based on clinical evaluation while avoiding delays that could affect the outcome.
For residents in the coastal districts, the immediate official guidance is to exercise caution around damp and grassy areas, avoid unscientific remedies and reach a government hospital promptly after a suspected snakebite. Health facilities are expected to determine the appropriate treatment, including whether anti-venom is required.
