Citation

Willyard C. Sci. Am. 2023; 329(3): e0.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Scientific American)

DOI

10.1038/scientificamerican1023-s18

PMID

39017241

Abstract

Inside a two-story brick building, not far from the orchids and iguanas of the botanical garden in Medellín, Colombia, wildlife technician Jorge Asprilla demonstrates how to extract venom from a snake. First, he uses a metal hook with an extended handle to snag a five-foot-long pit viper. Then he has to grab its head without getting bitten—a skill he has perfected after working for more than 25 years with dozens of venomous snake species.

Soon Asprilla has the snake's spade-shaped head firmly in his grasp and its muscular body pinned between his legs. The snake in his grip is known locally as a mapaná, and this species is responsible for most of the snakebites in Colombia. Asprilla has been bitten twice since he started working at the University of Antioquia's serpentarium, but he isn't one to elaborate on the experience. “Duele mucho,” he says. (“It hurts a lot.”)

Venomous snakes bite about 5,000 people a year in Colombia; between 20 and 40 of those bitten die from their injuries. And although Colombia has the ability to produce and distribute antivenom—the antidote for venomous snakebites—about 20 percent of the victims who need antivenom don't receive it. Globally as many as 2.7 million people are envenomed by snakes every year. Of these, up to 400,000 are permanently disabled, and estimates suggest that 81,000 to 138,000 die. Venomous snakebites may receive less attention from health organizations than contagious viruses and bacterial infections, but their toxic effects make them one of the deadliest neglected tropical diseases. ...

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Animals; *Neglected Diseases/epidemiology; *Snake Bites/mortality/epidemiology; Antivenins/therapeutic use