In Queensland, authorities have recorded a record number of snakebites since the beginning of the year. In the Australian state, 370 cases have already been known in the first four months. More recently, on Tuesday, when a man from the village of Clagiraba was taken to hospital after being bitten. As broadcaster 9News reported on Thursday, he is in stable condition. For comparison: in 2021 as a whole, about 870 snakebites were reported in the tropical region.
Most people affected would be bitten on the lower extremities, the station quoted the Queensland Ambulance Service. There have been a particularly large number of cases on the Sunshine Coast, which is popular with tourists. According to experts, the reason for the growing number is that more and more people are trying to catch or kill snakes in their homes or gardens instead of waiting for experts.
leave in silence
“If you see a snake, leave it alone and go away. Usually, they only bite if provoked,” says an emergency services spokesperson. After a bite, it is highly recommended not to wash the wound. This helps to test for venom residue and identify snake species. “This season we’ve had a lot of calls and messages where people have already caught the snake – a lot more than last year,” said Snake Hunter Stuart McKenzie of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers. Please let the professionals handle it.”
Queensland is home to several venomous snakes, including the coastal taipan, tiger viper, death viper, rough-scaled viper and the eastern brown snake, one of the most venomous species in the world.