There is no specific antivenom for the bite of the African bush viper, which can even cause death in humans
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A a poisonous viper bit an employee of the zoo in San Diego specialist in this type of snakes . The paramedics had to transfer him to the hospital , but its health status is still unknown.
The wildlife care specialist was in charge of the so-called African bush viper when the reptile It bit him, Zoo spokesman Andrew James said. The events occurred in an area with no access to the public at around two in the afternoon , according to the San Diego Fire Department.
“Although the San Diego Zoo cares for several poisonous reptiles, incidents of this type are very rare , and the snake was contained at all times without risk of escape ”, James said in a statement to The San Diego Union-Tribune and other local media.
The worker was taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment after the bite from the African bush viper, the official said, stressing that “incidents like this are very rare, and the snake was contained at all times with no risk of an escape.” https://t.co/BfEA7dEUDV
– NBC Ne w York (@NBCNewYork) April 13, 2021
The spokesperson assured that the man was immediately taken to hospital for evaluation and care
The snake involved is a African viper, also known as Atheris squamigera , native to parts of central and western Africa. Its venom can cause fever, bleeding, difficulty breathing, tissue death, and even death in humans in just a few days, according to the website of the Michigan zoology museum and National Geographic .
There is no known antivenom to reverse that of the African viper, according to Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York. However, can be used antivenoms created for the bites of other poisonous snakes . So did the Dallas Zoo in January of 2015 when he helped treat a man who had a snake in his house (although in Dallas and Fort Worth it is illegal to keep them at home) and he bit him.
On the morning of this Monday, almost two days after the incident, the state of health of the injured employee was still unknown.
