Juba, South Sudan
October 8,2021—Health authorities at Bor town of Jonglei State announced that Civil Hospital and clinics in the state capital, Bor are receiving increased number of patients who are victims of snake bite as flood is forcing people, snakes and other animals to compete for dry space.
In a statement extended to Nyamilepedia, Dr Bol Chaw, a medical director in Bor town, said the hospital usually registers cases of snake bites, adding that at least one out of ten patients passed away.
“According to the statistics, there were about 10 patients that were bitten by snakes. Unfortunately, one passed away,” Dr Chaw quoted by Eye Radio to have said on Thursday.
Dr. Chaw attributed the low fatality rates to the availability of antivenin medicine that is being effectively administered.
“We get nearly ten snake bite cases [weekly], but the presence of antivenom has really reduced the fatality cases.”, he said.
According to the UN’s recent assessment, Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, Western and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states are considered the most flood-affected states in the country.
The World Health Organization documentary revealed that about 5.4 million snake bites occur annually.
The snake bites mostly affects women, children and farmers in poor rural communities especially in the developing countries.
