Two weeks ago, a person was bitten by a Boomslang and no hospital could assist him because there is no Monovalent antivenom available.
A recent incident over the weekend, included a dog bitten by a Puff Adder bite.
Professor Mlisana, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Laboratories, warned people to be extra cautious, especially those working with venomous snakes, as many hospitals and veterinarians do not have sufficient stock of antivenom to treat snakebite emergencies.
This happens just as importers of Panaf Premium, manufactured in India, are expected to begin registering for a license in South Africa.
Panaf is sold in powder form and does not require refrigeration and lasts for four years, before it expires.
But because it is not a registered drug in South Africa, hospitals and veterinarians must apply for a special permit under Section 21 of SAPHRA, before this product can be purchased.
The production of snake-, spider- and scorpion antivenom was suspended in South Africa, by the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP), a subsidiary of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), who is the sole producer of these antivenoms in sub-Saharan Africa, because no stock was available until further notice.
This, while the organisation’s facilities are being upgraded to meet modern Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Picture: Supplied