Scientists are to find a universal cure for snakebite. Experts on snakebite venom in India, Kenya, Nigeria, the UK and the USA are together on a possible cure. They are the same technology that was used to HIV anti-bodies. The scientists are to find ways of using human anti-bodies to against snake venom. At the moment, snakebite treated using anti-venom which adapts the actual venom from the snake. Professor Robert Harrison, from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: "We're what we call the 'next generation' of snakebite therapies, which we will be able to bites from any snake in Africa or India."
Snakebites up to 140,000 people a year. More people die from snakebite than from infectious diseases like rabies or dengue fever. A further 400,000 people life-changing injuries after bitten by a snake. These injuries amputations and psychological trauma. There are about 250 types of snake worldwide that have harmful venom. The venom from these snakes very different, which finding anti-venoms very challenging for scientists. Former Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, snakebite as, "the biggest public health crisis you have likely never of". However, people who the right anti-venom a very high chance of survival.
