First report of Deadly bites by Caspian Cobra (Naja oxiana )from India, snakebite envenoming at 1,757 meters above sea-level
First report of deaths from Caspian cobra bites in India
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming (SBE) remains a major cause of preventable mortality in rural India.The Big Four species, namely the spectacled cobra (Naja naja), Russell’s viper(Daboia russelii),common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) and saw-scaled viper(Echis carinatus), are responsible for the majority of SBE and deaths in the country. The commercially available anti- snake venom (ASV) correspondingly covers these species only. Envenomation and subsequent deaths from the Caspian Cobra(Naja oxiana) have never previously been reported from India. While collecting data for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) project on snakebite, we came across two deaths due to the bite of N.oxiana. One patient died within half an hour of the bite and the other within 72 hrs. Potent cardiotoxicity may be an important factor in the high mortality. We also report on the use of herbal remedies that were used in the case of two survivors of N. oxiana bites.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.7048.202609
How to cite this article:
Bharti O K, Menon J C, Phull A, joy S, Sharma
V, Malhotra A. First Report of Deadly Bites
by Caspian Cobra (Najaoxiana) From India,
Snakebite Envenoming at 1,757 Meters Above
Sea-Level. Epidem Int. 2026;11(3):39-42.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Omesh Kumar Bharti, Jaideep C Menon, Archana Phull , Samson Joy, Virender Sharma, Anita Malhotra
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