Your one stop reptile community - Rare Cobra Bites Teen; Anti-Venin Unavailable

faze · #1 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 11:45 AM

Rare Cobra Bites Teen; Anti-Venin Unavailable

Cobra bite house PIC An entire room in this house is dedicated to reptiles.
local10.com
POSTED: 1:01 PM EDT October 28, 2004
UPDATED: 11:52 AM EDT October 29, 2004

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- A Homestead teenager's is still in the hospital today after a being bitten by a cobra Thursday that is so rare that no anti-venin is available.

Cobra bite house PIC An entire room in this house is dedicated to reptiles.
"I've called five of the top experts worldwide and even though the venom unit has dealt with over 750 snakebites, this is the first one possibly in existence in this country," said Miami-Dade firefighter Al Cruz, who runs the county's venom unit.

Investigators say the rare coral cobra bit the teen as she slept in her Homestead home. The 14-year-old's stepfather, Bill Stifler, is an employee of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and also works professionally showing snakes. An entire room in their house is dedicated to reptiles. At this point, it's not known how the snake got out of the room to bite the sleeping teen.

Would You Keep A Poisonous Animal In Your Home?

The teen's prognosis not certain. Doctors at Miami Children's Hospital are monitoring her.

"You're dealing with a situation that time will tell what the resolution will be," Cruz said.

Coral cobras typically live in the southwestern regions of Africa. Very little is known about its venom, but the snake's bite is not thought to be as toxic as other cobras.

Copyright 2004 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

telefrag · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 10:40 PM

Man, while she was sleeping.

that is really awful.

by coral cobra, are they talking about an Aspidelaps sp? I didnt know those were rare.

aesailor7575 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 10:57 PM

probably in a remote enough area that there isnt a need for anti-venom

ChicagoCubs22 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 11:18 PM

they should use crofab and other anti-venin's that are used with cobras and other neurotoxic venomous snakes...

WhiteLips · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 11:22 PM

Actually, it's south of Miami and they probably see a lot of snake bites, the Everglades are very close to Homestead... but it's most likely rattlers or coral snakes, and maybe some cotton mouths. They usually don't carry anti-venin for all poisonous snakes.

WhiteLips · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 11:27 PM

After Thought (over the two minute edit)
Maybe the guy that was keeping these "rare" venomous snakes should have had some appropriate anti-venin available?

Wrasse · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faze

er.. oops ?

aesailor7575 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2004, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoCubs22

they should use crofab and other anti-venin's that are used with cobras and other neurotoxic venomous snakes...

I beleieve crofab was designed as a all purpose rattle snake anti-venom. I believe it has now been tested for cobra bites. using this on a venom that it hasnt been tested on could be very harmful on the bite victim could cause more harm then good. but I am not a chemist so I dont know for sure

telefrag · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2004, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoCubs22

they should use crofab and other anti-venin's that are used with cobras and other neurotoxic venomous snakes...

I thought most Elapids had their own polyvalent antivenin, and crofab was used mainly in the US for rattlesnake other crotalid bites.

aesailor7575 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2004, 04:23 AM

I think your right telefrag.

faze · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2004, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrasse

er.. oops ?

lmao er oops they where given the credit for the news along with a link all i did was post it

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