Temporal trends in envenomation by venomous animals: A global burden of disease analysis

Abstract

Envenomation by venomous animals remains a critical public health issue in tropical regions; however, long-term global epidemiological trends have not yet been sufficiently characterised. By analysing data from the Global Burden of Disease study from 1990 to 2021, we found a decline in envenomation incidence and mortality globally, with South Asia being the region with the highest burden, despite recording the sharpest reductions. Disparities persist between working-age men and the elderly, highlighting the need for targeted occupational protection measures and improvements in antivenom distribution for emergencies.