Mexico has the greatest diversity of venomous snakes than any other country in the Americas: about 580 species and subspecies of snakes, 21% of which have venoms that can cause serious harm to humans.
There are an average of 10 daily cases of in the country Snake bite according to the Ministry of Health.
As of September 12, 2,791 bite cases have been reported so far this year.
The states of Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Chiapas and Guerrero are the ones that register the most cases.
While Querétaro is one of the entities reporting the fewest cases of this type, there have only been 30 cases so far this year.
Mexico has the greatest diversity of venomous snakes than any other country in the Americas: about 580 species and subspecies of snakes, 21% of which have venoms that can cause serious harm to humans.
The genus Crotalus is considered to be the cause of most bites in our country. This has increased over the years.
An example of this genus is the rattlesnake, which is considered the most venomous in North America.
cases of Snake bite The data obtained generally comes from accidents in the field. Accidents in biological research centers or zoos and those that occur in the homes of victims who have reptiles as pets.
What to do if you get a snake bite?
- Lay the victim down.
- Do not expose it to the sun.
- Remove accessories that add pressure, such as rings, bracelets, watches, ties, belts, and socks.
- Do not administer stimulants such as ethyl alcohol, coffee or drugs
- Clean with soap and water.
- Immobilize the affected limb.
- Move away from the snake’s attack radius.
- If possible, position yourself so that the bite is at heart level or below.
- Try to remember its color and shape so you can describe it. It will be useful for your treatment.
What you should avoid after a snake bite:
- Do not apply ice.
- Do not make wounds with contaminated sharp objects as this can cause severe bleeding, deep lacerations and infection.
- Avoid tourniquets as they reduce blood supply and promote tissue destruction, which can result in loss of a limb.
- Do not drink caffeine or alcohol as this may speed up the absorption of the poison into your body.
- Don’t try to catch the snake.
Prevent the situation
- Thorough cleaning at home, under beds, behind armchairs and paintings.
- Vacuum dark or poorly ventilated areas.
- Spray once a year.
- Shake out clothes and shoes when you get dressed or when you get home, and look at the shelves when moving items.
Symptoms:
Most snakebites occur on the extremities.
Typical symptoms of a non-venomous snake bite include:
- Pain and scratches in place.
Typical symptoms of a non-venomous snake bite include:
- Severe, burning pain occurs at the site within 15 to 30 minutes.
- swelling
- Bruises on the wound and all over the arm or leg. nausea.
- Difficulty breathing.
- General feeling of weakness.
- Strange taste in mouth.
- In some cases, there is tingling of the skin, difficulty speaking and weakness.
How do you recognize poisonous snakes?
- They have slit-like eyes and are called vipers.
- Their heads are triangular and have fangs.
- An exception is the coral snake, which has a round head and round pupils.
- Nonvenomous snakes usually have a round head, round pupils and no fangs.
States with the most snakebite cases so far in 2023
- 304 Veracruz
- 294 Puebla
- 289 Oaxaca
- 188 Hidalgo
- 179 Chiapas
- 173 Guerrero
