Snake Antivenom Shortage

**Luker** · 03-04-2023, 08:38

A very disturbing situation. No antivenom and no explanation:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/arti...eptile-expert/

**ady** · 03-04-2023, 08:43

This has been the case for months already. We needed puff adders removed from the property last year and the snake catcher said there is no anti-venom available for both humans and animals.

It seems pretty much everything in SA is broken.

**Koebelwagen** · 03-04-2023, 08:47

Originally Posted by Luker

A very disturbing situation. No antivenom and no explanation:

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/arti...eptile-expert/

The explanation is easy, we have a totally incompetent government actively employing even less competent cadres into positions far exceeding their professional (if any) skills. Maintenance and replacement of ageing infrastructure is an entirely foreign concept to the ruling class, they would far rather pilfer the money for their own personal gain. They didn't "struggle" to be poor, now did they?

**Antlion** · 03-04-2023, 08:57

"While the South African Vaccine Producers have had production problems over the years, they ran into serious production problems early in 2022, citing power outages and supply problems as the main contributing factors."

I really hope African Snakebite Institute plans of launching antivenom banks through out the country ends up being a success.

**ady** · 03-04-2023, 09:51

Onderstepoort is just as big a mess. They struggling along with animal vaccine production as well.

**Luker** · 03-04-2023, 09:52

"I really hope African Snakebite Institute plans of launching antivenom banks through out the country ends up being a success."

Tell us more.

My greatest fear when we are out hunting is that one of my dogs gets bitten by a snake. As a
precaution I have trained them to walk and sit right next to me at all times and we avoid areas
where snakes are likely to occur.
Like so much else in this country we are on our own ..........

**camouflage762** · 04-04-2023, 09:48

Best treatment for a Mamba bite is to lie in the shade

That way your corpse will not pong to quickly.

**Sean KZN** · 04-04-2023, 16:37

Originally Posted by camouflage762

Best treatment for a Mamba bite is to lie in the shade

That way your corpse will not pong to quickly.

When I was a nipper, one of my old mans dogs got bitten by a pretty big mamba, when you're young everything looks larger so I remember it as enormous. Anyway, the dog ran for the house and then rested in the shade, I think it was stone dead the moment it stopped.

**Luker** · 06-04-2023, 07:47

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/arti...ivenom-crisis/

**oafpatroll** · 06-04-2023, 07:53

Originally Posted by Luker

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/arti...ivenom-crisis/

The fact that they got to 'open letter' stage tells you everything you need to know. Appealing to the minister in charge to do one of the things that he's nominally in charge of will be as effective as directing the appeal to the Easter Bunny. Strongly suspect that in time this will have been taken over by the private sector if there is any money to be made from it.