Proximity between humans and a highly medically significant snake, Russell’s viper, in a tropical rural community

Snakebite envenoming is a major neglected tropical health issue. The high incidence of snakebites in rural communities suggests that venomous snakes and people are often proximity but quantitative evidence lacking. I used radio-telemetry on population Russell’s vipers (Daboia russelii), one the most medically important world, to quantify between this snake estimate susceptibility snakebite India. observed ≤50 m radio-equipped viper ~17% 2,066 relocations. People were more frequently January July compared March, all other contrasts statistically similar. This pattern indicates incidence, which peaks summer study area, not particularly linked encounter frequency vipers. However, consistent with epidemiological data plantation workers at-risk part population. By integrating information about locations humans space time, pioneering research highlights need include ecology into human–venomous-snake conflict, provides model approach help mitigate burden caused by Tropics.