In Poland, a teenager survived a bite from a venomous Levantine viper — TVP World
In Poland, a 16-year-old boy was bitten by a venomous Levantine viper. The victim was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he was immediately administered an antivenom. Thanks to prompt medical attention, the teenager survived and his condition has stabilized.
The viper bit the teenager last week while he was trying to give it water. While he was in intensive care, a special team was sent to Munich, Germany, to obtain the antivenom, which was not available in Poland.
The day before, the hospital announced the successful use of the serum.
“Today we can say with relief and satisfaction: the fight for the antivenom was worth it. The boy is alive,” the hospital’s statement reads.
The Levantine viper, whose venom is several times stronger than that of the European viper, is found in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
In Poland, it is illegal to keep it as a pet, as viper bites are often fatal, according to TVP World.
Earlier, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced his intention to urgently visit the city of Bunia in the Congolese province of Ituri. This region has become the epicenter of yet another dangerous Ebola outbreak.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded its 17th Ebola outbreak, which has already claimed the lives of 80 people. This time, the disease was likely caused by the little-studied Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, rather than the more common Zaire ebolavirus.
Ethiopia has recorded its first outbreak of the Marburg virus, which is clinically similar to Ebola. The pathogen is capable of spreading rapidly, but there are no vaccines against it.
