South Sudan Medics Trial AI App for Snakebite Identification

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is testing an AI-powered app in South Sudan to identify venomous snakes, utilizing a database of 380,000 images, The Guardian reported yesterday.

The initiative aims to improve treatment for the 5.4 million annual snakebite victims globally, with 2.7 million becoming seriously ill and 138,000 fatalities reported by the WHO.

The app, currently piloted in two MSF hospitals, allows medics to capture images of snakes at bite sites, which are then analyzed to determine the appropriate treatment, potentially before patients reach the hospital. Dr. Gabriel Alcoba noted that early results show the AI sometimes outperforms human experts in identification.

Misidentification can lead to improper treatment, wasting precious antivenom, which is both rare and costly. WHO expert David Williams highlighted that rural communities are particularly vulnerable, facing not only health crises but also economic burdens due to snakebites. Climate change is exacerbating the situation, with increased flooding leading to more incidents in affected regions.