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