At least 10 cases of snakebites have been reported in Unity State’s Mayom County after torrential rains and resultant floods inundated 11 payams last week, forcing snakes, humans, and domestic and other animals to compete for higher dry ground, officials said.
Mayom County Commissioner Luke Chierye Riek told Radio Tamazju Thursday morning that the 10 snakebite cases were confirmed by the health department in different locations across the county this month.
“The incident report of snakebites was released today (Thursday). After seven days of rain last week, floods forced the residents of many villages in Mayom County to high lands from lower ground,” he explained. “Snakes also moved away from the water to higher ground where people are and that is why cases of snakebites increased.”
According to Commissioner Chierye, the victims were taken to Mayom Hospital for treatment. He however said the main challenge is the lack of antivenoms in all the health centers across the county.
“Among the 10 snakebite cases, no deaths were reported at the hospital, and in the villages, they were just injuries,” he said. “Most of the cases were among farmers who went to their gardens and those who were displaced by the current floods in villages.”
For his part, Kuol Tut Jal, a resident of Mayom Town, said most of the snakebite victims are elderly people and children and he appealed to health organizations to intervene.
“I am appealing to health partners to support the County Health Department (CHD) with antivenoms to support the community,” he stated.