Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata has urged residents in the region to be on the lookout for snakes following an increase in the number of reported confrontations.
Elungata has warned locals against attacking snakes since it raises chances of being bitten by the snakes.
Others measures urged by the government to be used to eliminate include getting rid of snake’s food and eliminating hiding places as they are known to live and hide in cracks, crevices and holes.
Elungata confirmed that several deaths as a result of snake bites have been reported in Kwale, Tana River and Kilifi counties.
According to research the exact number of snake bites is unknown, an estimate of 5.4 million people are bitten each year with up to 2.7 million envenoming. Around 81,000 to 138,000 people die each year because of snake bites, and around three times as many amputations and other permanent disabilities are caused by snakebites annually.
