Karnataka Unveils Snakebite Prevention Plan and Expands Rare Disease Coverage

The Karnataka government on Saturday rolled out a State Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming, positioning itself as the first state in India to frame a comprehensive roadmap to tackle snakebite deaths and disabilities.

The action plan recognises a wider range of medically significant snakes beyond the traditional “big four” and sets out measures to improve data collection and research on species variation and antivenom effectiveness. Officials said the strategy aims to strengthen surveillance through a dedicated research cell, enhance community awareness by harnessing technology, and support cashless treatment for victims under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme.

Snakebite was declared a notifiable disease in Karnataka in 2024 after reported cases surged, with more than 20 000 bites and over 150 deaths recorded in 2025. Alongside the snakebite plan, the state also released a State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination aligning with the National Rabies Control Programme, reaffirming efforts to eradicate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.

In a separate move ahead of World Rare Disease Day, the state government expanded the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme to cover secondary complications of rare diseases irrespective of economic status. Previously only priority households received full benefits; under the new order all registered patients at the Centre of Excellence for Rare Diseases in Bengaluru will have treatment covered up to ₹1 crore.

Health officials noted that this change is expected to ease financial burdens for families facing costly treatments such as surgery or lung care triggered by rare condition complications.