More than 1,000 people in Taiwan are bitten by venomous snakes every year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday, urging people to remain alert for six common types of venomous snakes.
Reports of snakebites usually start to increase in April, as the weather becomes warmer and more humid, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said, urging people to be cautious during outdoor activities.
CDC Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development section chief Cheng Ya-fen (鄭雅芬), who is also a veterinarian, said that the six common types of venomous snakes in Taiwan are the pointed-scaled pit viper, the green bamboo viper and the Chinese moccasin (hundred-pace viper), which have hemorrhagic toxins in their venom; the common cobra and the many-banded krait (Taiwanese krait), which have neurotoxic venom; and the Russell’s viper, whose venom is hemotoxic and neurotoxic.
Photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control
The pointed-scaled pit viper has a pointed and triangular head, and can be found hiding in woodpiles or bushes, Cheng said, adding that the reptile is known to enter homes in search of food.
The green bamboo viper also has a triangular head and is often found in trees and bushes, Cheng said, while the common cobra often rears up and spreads its hood when alarmed.
The many-banded krait has a small oval head and tiny teeth, she said, adding that people who have been bitten sometimes delay treatment, because the bite can be small and painless at first.
Cheng said the Russell’s viper is often found on river gravel and in sugar cane fields in eastern and southern Taiwan, and usually coils its body and makes a hissing sound when disturbed.
The Chinese moccasin is mostly found in mountainous areas in eastern and southern Taiwan, and usually hides under fallen leaves, she said.
“Most of these venomous snakes are afraid of humans, so if you keep your distance, they usually will not attack unless they feel threatened,” Cheng said, adding that people can use a trekking pole to stir grass or weeds to startle snakes when hiking to prevent snakebites.
Cheng said the CDC is the nation’s sole producer of snake antivenom and more than 3,700 vials are provided to healthcare facilities each year, of which about 2,800 are administered yearly.
Of the administered vials, about 2,500 are for pointed-scaled pit viper or green bamboo viper bites, about 400 vials are common cobra or many-branded krait bites, and only a few vials are Chinese moccasin or Russell’s viper bites, she added.
CDC physician Chao Pei-jiuan (趙珮娟) said the center encourages “five dos and do nots” if bitten by a snake.
The five “dos” are: deeming any snakebite venomous and using first aid, taking a picture of the snake to help with identification, removing all accessories before the bitten limb starts to swell, applying a bandage above the wound to slow the spread of venom, and keeping calm and seeking medical attention immediately.
The five “do nots” are: do not cut the wound, do not try to suck the venom out, do not apply ice, do not drink caffeine or alcohol, as it speeds up the body’s absorption of venom, and do not delay seeking medical treatment, Cheng said.
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