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Snake Envenoming: A Disease of Poverty

PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2009 · Vol. 3(12) · pp. e569–e569

Robert A. Harrison✉(Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)Adam D Hargreaves(Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)Simon C. Wagstaff(Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)Brian Faragher(Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)David G. Lalloo(Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)

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Abstract

This study, the first of its kind, unequivocally demonstrates that snake envenoming is a disease of the poor. The negative association between snakebite deaths and government expenditure on health confirms that the burden of mortality is highest in those countries least able to deal with the considerable financial cost of snakebite.

Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies Rabies epidemiology and controlSocioeconomic statusPovertyPer capitaEnvironmental healthGross domestic productMortality rateEpidemiologyMedicineSocioeconomicsGovernment (linguistics)