At least five cases of snakebites have been recorded in Adok and Yang payams of Unity State’s Leer County in the past two months.
County Commissioner Stephen Taker Riek Dong told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the five cases were reported in September and October.
The five victims, he said, were treated and discharged from hospital.
“No deaths were reported at the hospital among the five snakebite cases and in the villages, they were just injuries,” he said.
Dong said most of the victims were farmers working in the gardens and those who were displaced by the current floods.
The snakebite cases are linked to the flooding, which started in July.
“The floods forced the residents of many villages to move to higher grounds,” Dong explained. “Snakes also moved away from the waters to higher grounds where people were, hence the many cases of snakebites.”
Dong said the main challenge was the lack of anti-venoms in all the health centers across the county, but the NGOs were supporting the community.
Dong appreciated the NGOs for their support.
Leer Town resident Gai Tut said most of the snakebite victims were elderly people and children.
“I am appealing to the health partners to continue supporting the County Health Department (CHD) with anti-venoms,” he stated.