Snakebite cases in Chittagong have surged sharply as floodwaters begin to recede across the division, with health authorities reporting that snakes displaced from their natural habitats are increasingly turning up in residential areas. According to the Chittagong Civil Surgeon’s Office, 118 people have been hospitalised since the flooding began, though officials say all victims have recovered and no deaths have been reported so far.
The rise in snakebite cases in Chittagong has been most pronounced in flood-hit Chittagong upazilas where standing water has only recently begun to drain away. Officials said Boalkhali recorded the highest number of Boalkhali snakebite cases, with 26 people bitten, followed by Banshkhali with 20 cases and Patiya with 18. Smaller numbers were reported across the rest of flood-hit Chittagong, including Hathazari with 10 cases, Raozan with nine, Rangunia with eight, Satkania with six, Anwara with five, and Chandanaish, Sitakunda, Fatikchhari and Mirsarai with three each, while Sandwip and Lohagara each recorded two.
Flood-Hit Chittagong Sees Snakes Pushed Into Homes
Health officials attribute the wave of snakebite cases in Chittagong to snakes being driven out of their burrows and natural shelters by heavy rainfall and rising water. Dr Tapas Kanti Majumdar, the Hathazari Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, said ten snakebite patients had been admitted to the upazila health complex since the floods began, and that all had recovered after treatment. “Flooding forces snakes out of their burrows and into homes and elevated areas,” he said, adding that residents should be especially cautious while moving around at night in flood-hit Chittagong.
Dr Majumdar advised residents to avoid traditional healers entirely and to seek treatment at the nearest government hospital immediately after any snakebite. He also recommended practical precautions to limit further snakebite cases in Chittagong, including sleeping under mosquito nets, keeping household surroundings clean and carrying a flashlight after dark.
Anti-Venom Stock Remains Sufficient, Officials Say
Concerns about snakebite treatment in Bangladesh have grown alongside the rising case numbers, though officials have sought to reassure the public that supplies remain adequate. Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam said the recent flooding had significantly increased human-snake encounters but stressed there was no need for panic, noting that the division’s anti-venom stock was sufficient to treat around 1,000 patients if required. He confirmed that all 118 recorded patients had recovered fully.
Dr Abdullah Abu Sayeed, coordinator of the country’s only Venom Research Centre, said Bangladesh is home to around 110 snake species, of which only 21 are venomous. He noted that snakebite treatment in Bangladesh remains a significant public health challenge nationally, with an estimated 400,000 people suffering snakebites every year and around 7,500 dying from them, many because victims delay seeking proper medical care. He said reliance on traditional remedies remains common in rural areas, often resulting in life-threatening delays before patients reach a hospital.
Vigilance Urged as Waters Continue to Recede
As floodwaters continue to recede across flood-hit Chittagong, health officials are urging residents not to let their guard down. With adequate anti-venom stock reported at government facilities and no fatalities recorded so far, authorities say the priority now is ensuring that anyone bitten seeks immediate medical attention rather than turning to unproven remedies. Public health officials say continued monitoring of snakebite cases in Chittagong will be essential in the coming weeks as displaced snakes gradually return to their natural habitats.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 21, 2026
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