Russell's viper, a venomous snake species, has been recorded in 32 districts.
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| When people unknowingly get too close, the snake, sensing danger, strikes out of fear. |
The Chandrabora snake, also known as Russell's viper, has been spreading across various districts. Over the past 11 years, this venomous snake has been spotted in 32 districts. Doctors report an increase in the number of patients bitten by this snake. Both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change have urged the public not to panic about the Chandrabora snake.
The Venom Research Center, which focuses on snake venom studies, issued a statement last Friday highlighting efforts to spread misinformation on social media about the Chandrabora snake. They noted that old pictures are being used to show the snake in areas where it is unlikely to be found, and images of snake species not present in Bangladesh are being circulated. The research institute at Chittagong Medical College has advised the public to verify information before posting about the Chandrabora snake on social media.
The Chandrabora, a venomous snake, has a brown or yellow skin color, often with a combination of both. Its body is marked with round or oval dark brown spots arranged in a chain-like pattern. According to snake researchers, while many snakes lay eggs that hatch into babies, the Chandrabora’s eggs hatch internally, and the babies are born live from the mother's abdomen. This snake also prefers to move in water.
In the book "Snakes of Bangladesh" published by Bangla Academy in 1992, wildlife zoologist Md. Ali Reza Khan noted that the Chandrabora snake is mostly found in the Rajshahi division and is less visible elsewhere. The Venom Research Center at Chittagong Medical College reported sightings of Chandrabora snakes in 9 districts between 2013 and 2016. By 2018, the number of districts with sightings increased to 11, and by 2023, researchers recorded the snake in 23 districts. From 2013 to May 2024, the Chandrabora snake was observed in 32 districts. These districts include Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogra, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Natore, Jessore, Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Manikganj, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, Chandpur, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, and Barguna. The number of districts is expected to continue increasing.
The Venom Research Center claims that the spread of the Chandrabora snake is most prevalent in the districts along the Padma River and its tributaries.
Associate Professor Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury from the Department of Internal Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), who is involved in snake venom research, told Prothom Alo that the Chandrabora snake is an excellent swimmer and spreads along rivers. He noted that how this snake reaches areas like Meherpur and Chuadanga warrants further research.
Patient Numbers Increasing
On Saturday, a patient bitten by a Chandrabora snake was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College. Associate Professor Abu Shaheen Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman of the Rajshahi Medical Department, who treated the patient, noted that he first treated a Chandrabora snake bite victim in 2013. Since then, he has treated 235 patients bitten by this snake, with 29 percent of them succumbing to their injuries.
When asked by Prothom Alo if the number of patients is increasing, Rahman confirmed that the statistics are clear. In 2022, Rajshahi Medical College admitted 31 patients bitten by Chandrabora snakes. This number rose to 50 in 2023. He also mentioned that most patients come from the Chapainawabganj district, with the majority of bites occurring in paddy fields.
### Why is the Chandrabora Snake Increasing?
The exact history of when the Chandrabora snake was first seen in Bangladesh is unknown, and there is no definitive scientific explanation for its recent increase. According to Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at BSMMU, the decline in the snake's natural predators might be a key factor. He stated, "Guisap, beji, pacha, chil, and hawk—these animals used to prey on Chandrabora. Now, these predators are reduced or nearly extinct. We believe that the decrease in these primary enemies is contributing to the rise in the Chandrabora population. However, a deeper investigation is needed to confirm this hypothesis."
### Need to Be Taken to the Hospital Quickly
A video message from Health Minister Samant Lal Sen was released on Saturday by the Ministry of Health. In this message, the health minister highlighted the presence of poisonous Chandrabora snakes in some districts and grazing areas, which is causing public panic. He assured that drugs and other materials for treating snake bites are available in every district and upazila hospital across the country. The minister emphasized that the only way to survive a poisonous snake bite is to get the patient to the hospital quickly and advised against using traditional remedies like pushing or sweeping during treatment.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change issued a circular on Saturday with advice to avoid snake bites. They recommended wearing boots and long pants while working in fields where Chandrabora snakes are present, using flashlights when moving at night, being cautious around fallen trees, wood, and straw, and avoiding attempts to catch or kill a snake. Instead, people should call 333 if they see a snake.
Abu Shaheen Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Associate Professor of Medicine at Rajshahi Medical College, shared his experience with treating Chandrabora snake bite patients with Prothom Alo. He stated, "The antivenom available in the market is effective in treating Chandrabora venom. However, those who arrived at the hospital late had worsened conditions. Therefore, it's crucial to bring the patient to the hospital immediately or as soon as possible after a snake bite."
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