Hospitals in Nepal's hills and mountains are urgently requesting anti-venom supplies as venomous snakes, once confined to the southern plains, spread to higher altitudes. Sotang Primary Hospital in the mountain district of Solukhumbu has reported treating snakebite cases, a phenomenon previously rare in the region.
According to a 2024 study in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, climate change is driving venomous snakes like the common krait and Russell's viper into Nepal's hills and mountains, with sightings recorded up to 4,000 meters. The study, led by researchers from the University of Oxford and Nepal's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, found that rising temperatures are expanding snake habitats.
Dr. Sanjib Sharma, a snakebite expert at the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, confirmed that hospitals in districts like Solukhumbu, Gorkha, and Mustang are now treating snakebite victims. 'We are seeing cases in areas where snakebites were almost unknown a decade ago,' Sharma said. The Nepal Poison Information Centre reported 1,200 snakebite deaths in 2025, with 20% occurring in hill and mountain districts.
The Ministry of Health has acknowledged the shortage of anti-venom in these regions. A spokesperson said the government is working with the World Health Organization to procure additional supplies, but distribution remains a challenge due to poor road infrastructure. Local health posts are being trained to administer anti-venom, which must be kept refrigerated.
Community awareness programs are also being launched to educate residents on snakebite prevention and first aid. The Nepal Red Cross Society has distributed snakebite kits to 50 health posts in high-risk areas. However, experts warn that without sustained funding and logistics, the situation could worsen as snake habitats continue to shift.
