NEW DELHI: Danish researchers have, in a groundbreaking innovation, developed an antivenom which has shown effectiveness against 17 African snake species, and could revolutionise the treatment of venomous snakebites.
Snakebites result in about 150, 000 deaths worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The survivors are left with serious disabilities, including amputations and permanent tissue damage.
Currently available antivenoms do not cover all medically relevant snake species and do not always neutralise all medically relevant toxins found in snake venoms.