Guwahati, Aug. 2 -- Snakebites may dominate public perception during the monsoon, but fresh surveillance data from Demow CHC-cum-Model Hospital in Assam's Sivasagar district suggests that insect bites have quietly emerged as an even bigger public health concern.

The hospital recorded 163 animal and insect bite cases in July, surpassing the 143 snakebite cases treated during the same month.

According to the hospital's monthly Health & Wildlife Bite Surveillance Report, unknown insect bites accounted for nearly half of the non-snake incidents, with 78 patients requiring treatment. Other cases included 35 bee stings, 21 spider bites, 19 underwater insect bites, and 10 centipede bites.

Among the snakebite patients, pit vipers accounted for...