I think most of the people aren't phobic. They are ignorant of snakes.
They think it will bite you, turn on you, eat you while you sleep... all the media images, and myths they've always been told. I mean, people are always willing to believe the worst, because let's face it, it's more exciting ot them to think that harmless ball python will get out and swallow you up on night. The reality of the ball python sitting in his bin day after day doing nothing harmful is boring.
Most images people see of snakes is in the media, which is full of striking snakes. Look at youtube, see how many videos are of feeding snakes, as opposed to snakes sitting quietly. In the news, you only see the snakes that attacked their owner, not the green snake that someone has owned since it was a glorified worm. So when they see a snake, the brain immediately focuses on the most recent/memorable image it has in the memory.
If people saw dogs attacking people all the time, and saw dogs grabbing live prey to eat it, and dogs biting people, then lots of people would probably fear dogs.
Ignorance is sooo curable. All it takes is knowledge and the willingness of the ignorant to listen.
Most people who learn about snakes, find out that they aren't so bad, and end up facinated by them. Most small children I meet LIKE snakes. It's the older ones that don't. I don't think humans are born fearing snakes, but taught it by actions of the adults around them.
We can only educate the ignorant, and keep our pets safe in the meantime.