I've been to most of the Asian countries where the snakebite numbers seem to be disproportionately high. What I can tell you about that is that the main reason a lot of the snakebites occur is because these folks walk around barefoot in areas where a lot of dangerously venomous snakes cohabitate with people. Another part of it is because the way they do things tends to attract snakes to areas where people live. For instance, they will store large quantities of rice in a shack beside their home. This naturally attracts rats and mice, which in turn attract snakes. In these areas, Asian Cobras (Naja naja kaouthi, N.n.polyocellata, etc.) are very, very common. Another very common species in these areas is the Russell's Viper (Daboia russelli), and these folks walk around all over the place barefoot at night when russelli are active.
The truth of the matter is that when you consider the sheer numbers of people in these areas and the sheer number of snakes, then figure the number of actual human-snake encounters that probably occur every year, the number of actual bites is really surprisingly low. In India, it is estimated that around 100,000 people are bitten every year. About 10,000 (est) actually die. That's one fatality out of 10 people that are envenomated by dangerously venomous animals. That probably represents closer to a million encounters (whether or not the human was actually aware of the encounter). I can remember seeing as many as 8 Cobras and 3 Russell's Vipers in a single day. Of course, I was looking for them, but still, that's how common they are in certain places. Imagine if Eastern Diamondbacks and Western Diamondbacks were that common in towns and around people's houses in the United States.
Another factor that contributes to the 10,000 deaths is the fact that many of the people that are bitten try to use folk remedies instead of going to the hospital for antivenom. With a bite from a russelli, chances are good that it's going to end badly when folk remedies are used. Another factor is that many of these people live quite a distance from a hospital and transportation can be a problem. I don't think there is a shortage of antivenom, in fact it's fairly easy to get antivenom over there...no prescription is needed. The one problem I'm aware of with antivenom in that region is that Daboia antivenom from one region may be ineffective against a bite by a Daboia from another region due to genetic differences in the snakes resulting in large differences in the composition of the venom.
In the United States, nearly every venomous snakebite is treated by a hospital and antivenom is used where indicated. If that were true in these countries, the fatality rate would be much lower.
