Snake Season – is there enough antivenom?

Thabazimbi – Following the national shortage of antivenom earlier this year, the Platinum Bushvelder asked Martjie du Preez, hospital manager of Mediclinic Thabazimbi for an update.

Du Preez says that the antivenom they have on hand is used for most snakebites, they only adjust the amount of antivenom administered to the patient, depending on the type of snakebite.

“The antivenom for the boomslang is not readily available,” du Preez says. It would take the hospital between 4 to 6 hours to get it. Luckily, a boomslang snakebite is very rare in Thabazimbi, Northam and surrounds.