PANAJI
Amid a rising incidence of snake bites, with the State recording more than two cases a day, the government has declared snake-bite cases and deaths as a notified disease under the Goa Public Health Act, paving the way for systematic reporting and surveillance.
The move comes in the wake of the death of Dr Ketan Bhatikar, whose fatal snake bite sent shockwaves through Goa and highlighted the need for a coordinated public health response to prevent avoidable deaths.
A study by Dr Chetan Karekar and Dr Purvi Mishal of the Goa Medical College's Forensic Department, published last year in The Academic, documented 1,663 snake-bite cases and 30 deaths in Goa between 2020 and 2024. The study found that the State records 500-600 snake-bite cases annually, with most incidents occurring during the monsoon season. Young adults aged 21-30 were the worst affected, while rural and forested areas accounted for most cases, though urban incidents have also increased due to deforestation and construction activity.
