A shortage of South African-produced snake anti-venom, partly caused by load shedding affecting production, and a waiting time of at least six months for the delivery of this lifesaving treatment, is causing alarm among snake experts.
The polyvalent anti-venom is the gold standard for the treatment of venomous snake bites and is produced in Johannesburg by the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP), a subsidiary of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). This anti-venom (SAIMR Polyvalent Snakebite Antiserum SAVP) treats snakebites from the Black Mamba, Green Mamba, Jameson’s Mamba, Cape Cobra, Forest Cobra, Snouted Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Rinkhals, Puff Adder and Gaboon Viper.
However, reports GroundUp, in the past few months, a massive production backlog at the SAVP has led to shortages at health facilities, especially among veterinarians, says Johan Marais, herpetologist and CEO of the African Snakebite Institute.
“People’s dogs have died because for the past eight months veterinarians cannot buy anti-venom. It really is a big problem,” said Marais.
Around 3 500 people are bitten by snakes in South Africa annually, with 800 hospitalisations. Of these, only about 10% require anti-venom treatment. Depending on the snakebite, treatments range from six to 20 vials per patient.
Another challenge was that South Africa’s polyvalent anti-venom is bought and used in other African countries, like Kenya and Senegal. Kenya does not manufacture its own anti-venom and records about 700 snakebite deaths per year.
Mike Perry, founder of African Reptiles and Venom, supplies the SAVP with the raw snake venom used to produce the polyvalent anti-venom. Perry said it takes a few years to produce the anti-venom; the venom he supplies in 2023 will only be part of the anti-venom available in five years.
The venom he supplies to the SAVP is injected into horses in low doses over long periods. When the horses become hyper-immune to the venom, blood is drawn from the animals and the antibodies against the venom are separated from the blood.
NHLS spokesperson Mzimasi Gcukumana told GroundUp that the SAVP is “working around the clock” to reduce and ultimately eradicate the production backlog.
Load shedding had affected production, he said, adding that the laboratory had been able to supply “some provincial Health Departments and private facilities, including 13 veterinary practices, during December”.
The National Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said that it doesn’t have a contract with the producer for anti-venom despite it being “an essential medicine”.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Snakebite: 'The world’s biggest hidden health crisis
Big strides made in push for affordable, effective anti-venom
Broad-spectrum snake venom antidote developed
Venomics: Developing new medicines out of ancient animal poisons