LAHORE, Sept 8: The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) has failed to complete a unique snake anti-venom vaccine production project to treat victims of snake-bite in the country due to the paucity of funds, sources said.

The pilot study of the project was launched some three years back in which the UVAS was assigned to prepare the anti-venom vaccine but after the successful preparation of the vaccine, the university could not make progress regarding its further commercialisation.Head of the project, Dr Ziaullah Mughal, admitting shortcomings and shortage of funds, told APP on Sunday that every year around 40,000 incidents of snake-bite occurred in which over 30,000 people died in Pakistan. Only six to 10 per cent of the anti-venom vaccine was prepared by the National Institute of Health (NIH) against the required 150,000 vaccines per annum and that too was not easily available in market, he added.

He said 90 per cent of snake-bite deaths could have been prevented if the vaccine was produced at local level.During every year`s flood, anti-venom vaccine is imported from India.

Dr Ziaullah said the locally prepared anti-venom dose would be effective for four kinds of snake and be available at just Rs400 while the Indian vaccine was available at Rs1,900 and it was ef fective for only one kind of snake.

The snake-bite victim needs four doses for complete treatment, he added.

Sources say Rs400 million is needed to complete the project in three to four months and the vaccine export could earn a handsome amount.APP