Snakebite in Nigeria: When a Neglected Rural Disease Reaches the City and its Implications for Emergency Care Preparedness

Abstract

Snakebite envenoming remains one of the most neglected tropical diseases. Nigeria is among the countries most affected, with thousands of deaths and long-term disabilities reported annually. In this country, snakebite is closely tied to poverty, geography, and occupation, with most victims being farmers, herders, or rural labourers who live and work in environments where human–snake contact is common. However, a recent high profile case in Nigeria’s capital city changes this perceptions and highlights critical gaps in emergency care preparedness, even in urban setting. Snakebite envenoming is a medical emergency with a known, effective treatment, but access to antivenom remains inconsistent at the point of care. From an emergency care systems perspective, priority actions should include: ensuring consistent availability of antivenom in emergency departments, training frontline healthcare workers in standardized snakebite management protocols, and strengthening referral systems to reduce delays in definitive care. While the visibility of this case has drawn attention to the issue, many deaths in rural communities continue to occur unnoticed.