Martin Nowak
Martin's Snakes
“The New Snake Oil: Antivenoms That are Useless as Water”
It is somewhat conceivable that U.S. keeper(s) may have ineffective or even dangerous antivenom(s) for African or Asian hots. This report is an important read.
Consider that “the regulators” are hammering reptile keepers and wish to end the keeping of all reptiles. Consider that the reptile industry does not police itself. Consider that the reptile industry tends to accept, and often even endorse, bad behavior such as free-handling hots and welcoming such individuals at shows, and so forth. Now, the regulators can add to their arguments that proper antivenom is not available to treat species specific snakebite, and therefore society must bear the costs. (It was a foregone conclusion that the taipan bite would cause SC legislative action even though a single person was bitten – but the costs while covered by insurance, were shared by all the insureds in his risk pool.). In any event, the full investigative report is both fascinating and cautionary. Note that some vials were / are labeled with the incorrect species for which it was purchased.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
February 13, 2025
“In sub-Saharan Africa patients face a “Wild West” where treatments for snakebites cost the earth or don’t work”
“TBIJ tested samples of antivenoms bought in three countries, and found some antivenoms could require more than 70 vials to effectively treat some bites. Antivenoms are often in very short supply; most facilities do not stock enough and patients could not afford – or receive – that many vials in time for it to work.
One antivenom company has been accused of fraudulent research. Another business exported an antivenom for Indian snakes to west Africa, where they knew it would not work – an act experts called unethical and potentially criminal.”
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.c...ail&utm_term=0_b27a691814-795c6ff396-49193211
It is somewhat conceivable that U.S. keeper(s) may have ineffective or even dangerous antivenom(s) for African or Asian hots. This report is an important read.
Consider that “the regulators” are hammering reptile keepers and wish to end the keeping of all reptiles. Consider that the reptile industry does not police itself. Consider that the reptile industry tends to accept, and often even endorse, bad behavior such as free-handling hots and welcoming such individuals at shows, and so forth. Now, the regulators can add to their arguments that proper antivenom is not available to treat species specific snakebite, and therefore society must bear the costs. (It was a foregone conclusion that the taipan bite would cause SC legislative action even though a single person was bitten – but the costs while covered by insurance, were shared by all the insureds in his risk pool.). In any event, the full investigative report is both fascinating and cautionary. Note that some vials were / are labeled with the incorrect species for which it was purchased.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
February 13, 2025
“In sub-Saharan Africa patients face a “Wild West” where treatments for snakebites cost the earth or don’t work”
“TBIJ tested samples of antivenoms bought in three countries, and found some antivenoms could require more than 70 vials to effectively treat some bites. Antivenoms are often in very short supply; most facilities do not stock enough and patients could not afford – or receive – that many vials in time for it to work.
One antivenom company has been accused of fraudulent research. Another business exported an antivenom for Indian snakes to west Africa, where they knew it would not work – an act experts called unethical and potentially criminal.”
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.c...ail&utm_term=0_b27a691814-795c6ff396-49193211