September 19 is International Snakebite Awareness Day. This day was established by the WHO to raise awareness about the global incidence of snakebite injuries.
Nationwide, the departments of Loreto, San Martín, Ucayali, Amazonas, and Junín account for 82.51% of the total accumulated cases of accidents caused by venomous snakebites in Peru over the past five years. Loreto is the department with the highest number of incidents, with more than 500 cases annually from 2017 to 2022. However, no resident in these departments died from a snakebite.
Snakebites are a public health problem that is particularly important in rural areas, where these incidents are more frequent and access to health services and antivenom is limited. Patients are often treated with traditional methods.