Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, says a renowned type of snakebite antidote which is capable of neutralizing 10 different snakebites that can occur in Sub-Saharan Africa is in shorty supply and is due to expire next year.
The antidote, Fav-Afrique, has no comparable replacement, and the last batch will expire in June 2016, according to the Wall Street Hedge.
Manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur says the antidote has been priced out of the market, while MSF says the alternatives aren't as safe or effective.
What has many in the organization worried about the shortage is the versatility of the antidote in the face of a snakebite victim's lack of knowledge about snakes.
"Most people who get bitten by a snake aren't exactly sure what kind of snake it is that bit them and so having an anti-venom that works against a variety of different species is really important, " MSF's Polly Markandya said, according to the Mirror. "We are worried that without that anti-venom available, people will die unnecessarily."
Sanofi Pasteur is currently manufacturing treatments for rabies, and while the manufacturer is reportedly negotiating with another company to produce Fav-Afrique, the talks aren't believed to be finalized before late 2016, reported the BBC - meaning that, according to MSF, a replacement product wouldn't be expected to hit the market until 2018.
The World Health Organization says snakebites are a neglected issue that needs attention and investments.
An estimated 30,000 people die from snakebites in Sub-Saharan Africa each year, while an additional 8,000 get amputated due to bites that are left untreated.
