poor man’s disease
May 28, 2018 3:28 AM Subscribe
Causing around 100 000 deaths a year, snake bites have been made a global health priority by the World Health Authority. Mambas, medicine and one girl's race to survive Kenya's biting problem
I can recall being so terrified of bee stings, in early childhood, that I did not want to go outside. I can't imagine what it would be like, for children, to know that there were animals that would actually kill you, hanging around in the yard.
posted by thelonius at 5:37 AM on May 28, 2018
posted by thelonius at 5:37 AM on May 28, 2018
Damn, that's heartbreaking. Compare with Australia's response, especially the work of the late Struan Sutherland. Australia was able to fund long-term research to develop spider and snake venom antiserum. This work is where for-profit medicine absolutely falls down: the serums are highly specific, are based on manual collection of venom (fairly high on my nope list, no offence sneks), have a short active life and need to be available at short notice everywhere, to everyone.
posted by scruss at 6:32 AM on May 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by scruss at 6:32 AM on May 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
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Anyway, we all talk about it in country but apparently we no longer employ any snake-milkers. I, slightly drunk, saw a snake two nights ago while in the latrine. I shrieked and held it for a few more hours until I was drunk/brave enough to go back. That said, I am incredibly fortunate to be living next to a health facility with antivenin available. That said, I am still afraid of snakes.
posted by quadrilaterals at 5:31 AM on May 28, 2018 [5 favorites]