Nigeria records 43,000 snakebites and up to 2,500 deaths yearly

Nigeria records an estimated 43,000 snakebites annually, resulting in between 1,099 and 2,500 deaths, experts said at a national workshop in Lagos on Tuesday. Medical expert Abubakar Ballah said carpet vipers cause about 66% of snakebite deaths and identified Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue and Taraba as highly affected states. He warned against tourniquets, cutting wounds and traditional remedies, and said high antivenom costs, limited healthcare access and delayed treatment contribute to deaths. Lagos conservation expert Mark Ofua urged residents not to catch or handle snakes, advising them to leave this to trained professionals.