The public should beware of venomous snakes during tomb-sweeping or other outdoor activities, because spring has arrived and snakes are coming out of hibernation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
There are 16 species of poisonous snakes in the nation, six of which are capable of severely wounding or even killing humans, said Jean-Jay Mao (毛俊傑), an assistant professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at National Ilan University.
“The six dangerous snakes are the Taiwanese krait, the Taiwan cobra, the Siamese Russell’s viper, the Taiwan habus, or pointed-scale pit viper, the Taiwan bamboo viper, and the hundred pacer, or Chinese moccasin,” Mao said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
“The venom of the first two contains hemorrhagic toxins, the venom of the last three contains neurotoxins and the Russell’s vipers’ venom contains both types of toxins,” he added.
People who plan to go to mountainous areas should wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and boots for protection against snake bites, he said.
“Carrying a stick to probe an area before stepping into it is necessary and effective. People should also avoid putting their hands or feet into crevasses, holes or bushes without caution, and should carry a torch if they venture into places with little light,” Mao said.
Liu Yu-lun (劉宇倫), a disease prevention physician working at the CDC, offered instructions on the steps to follow if bitten by a snake.
“The first thing is to stay calm and try to remember the distinguishing marks of the snake, such as its shape, color and other features,” Liu said.
“Apply an elastic bandage or the like 5cm to 10cm from the bite. Keep the affected limb lower than the heart. Take off all metallic products from the bitten extremity. Do not try to suck the venom out of the snakebite, and take the victim to hospital immediately,” he added.
According to CDC statistics, about 1,000 people in Taiwan fall victim to snakebites every year, mostly by the Taiwan bamboo viper, the Taiwan habus and the Taiwan cobra.
The center said that the mortality rate from snakebites is very low in Taiwan, and with a large amount of antivenom in storage, the rate is expected to be less than 1 percent.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong effective from 5:30pm, while local governments canceled school and work for tomorrow. A land warning is expected to be issued tomorrow morning before it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, the agency said. Taoyuan, and well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties canceled work and school for tomorrow, as well as mountainous district of Taipei and New Taipei City. For updated information on closures, please visit the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Web site. As of 5pm today, Fung-wong was about 490km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point.
Almost a quarter of volunteer soldiers who signed up from 2021 to last year have sought early discharge, the Legislative Yuan’s Budget Center said in a report. The report said that 12,884 of 52,674 people who volunteered in the period had sought an early exit from the military, returning NT$895.96 million (US$28.86 million) to the government. In 2021, there was a 105.34 percent rise in the volunteer recruitment rate, but the number has steadily declined since then, missing recruitment targets, the Chinese-language United Daily News said, citing the report. In 2021, only 521 volunteers dropped out of the military, the report said, citing
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Kaohsiung at 1pm today, the Central Weather Administration said. The epicenter was in Jiasian District (甲仙), 72.1km north-northeast of Kaohsiung City Hall, at a depth of 7.8km, agency data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in Kaohsiung and Tainan, where it measured a 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale. It also measured a 3 in parts of Chiayi City, as well as Pingtung, Yunlin and Hualien counties, data showed.
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
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