Regional collaboration is crucial to end preventable deaths and disability from snakebites in South Asia, say Ravikar Ralph and colleagues.

Key messages:

• South Asia has the highest burden of snakebite envenoming in the world and contributes to 70% of global snakebite mortality
• Inadequate first aid, delayed treatment access, and suboptimal treatment contribute to poor outcomes
• The global focus on snakebite as a neglected tropical disease provides an opportune time for South Asian countries to strengthen regional cooperation and investment in research on epidemiology, treatment, and prevention