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  • Is there really any reason to fear and worry about Russell's Viper?

Is there really any reason to fear and worry about Russell's Viper?


  • National
  • Staff Correspondent
  • Published: 21 Jun 2024, 05:50 PM

Russell's viper infestation has increased in the country in recent years. There are reports of death due to the bite of this poisonous snake in different districts. Farmers are being attacked by these snakes especially when harvesting crops. So far 10 people have died due to snake bites in the country.

The information of Venom Research Center of the government says that this snake is spreading more in the districts along the Padma River. Researchers say that Russell's viper is spreading due to favorable weather conditions. Russell's viper is found mainly in Chandpur, Madaripur, Manikganj and even Dhaka in the Padma Basin. It is the only venomous snake that gives birth. Russell's vipers are good swimmers and this snake can give birth to 3-63 young at a time. These babies mature in two years. Their gestation period is six months. At least 18 people have died from this snake bite in Rajshahi Medical only in one and a half years. At this time, 68 people were admitted to the hospital.

The situation in the country has reached such a stage that the campaign to kill the Russell's viper snake and return is also being conducted on Facebook. Faridpur district Awami League General Secretary Md. Shah has announced a reward of 50,000 taka if he can kill this snake. Ishtiaq Arif.

Shah Md. Ishtiaq Arif said, 'If anyone can kill a Russell's viper in Faridpur Kotwali area, he will be given a reward of Tk 50,000. This reward will be given for every snake killed. Those who can kill as many snakes as possible will be given a reward of 50 thousand taka for each snake. We try to protect people from this snake. That is why this announcement was made.

Non-governmental organization Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation says that Russell's viper is not the most venomous or deadly snake in the country. Rather, half of the people who die from snake bites in the country every year are killed by snake bites. However, Russel's viper bites can also lead to death if not treated on time.

Snake researchers and experts say that there is treatment for snake bites of this species and if timely treatment is taken, the risk of death is reduced.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Samant Lal Sen said, 'The country has enough anti-venom or antivenom (anti-venom antibodies neutralize the venom, saving the life or limb of the affected person) and has ordered to keep antivenom in hospitals everywhere.

According to the Department of Health, 400,000 snake bites have occurred in 2023. Of these, 750,000 people died, most of whom were bitten by cobras and cobras.

Ashoka Fellow Bangladesh wildlife and environment expert. Abu Said and Professor Farid Ahsan of Chittagong University's Department of Zoology said that the panic being talked about Russell's Viper is purely out of fear and is exaggerated.

Professor Farid Ahsan said, 'Many are spreading fear without knowing. It is ingrained in the mind that everyone is afraid of snakes and dies from its bites. There is panic because not everyone knows that treatment is good. If you go to the nearest health complex very quickly, the solution can be taken much further.'

According to Professor Farid Ahsan, if you seek treatment within 100 minutes of a Russell's viper bite, the risk is greatly reduced.

He said, about the campaign that is going on because this snake has spread in the land or fields, he said that in some places including Manikganj, farms have been cleared where there was pasture before. As a result, the presence of snakes and food shortages have developed. In some areas, there are no more foxes, khatash, beji, guisap as there are multiple crops on the land. The ecosystem itself has been destroyed and now they are being driven out of their habitats and are floating in the Kachuri Pana and the Padma Meghna Yamuna. But even then there was no cause for panic.

He said, if people are a little careful, it is possible to avoid snake bites. Russell hits back at the viper saying that the hype going on is also not true.

Researcher Md. Abu Saeed says, 'It is not true that the patient dies after being bitten by the Russell's viper, rather the patient does not die easily. The patient does not die easily before at least 72 hours. In Bangladesh, there is information that this snake lived for 15 days after being bitten.

President of Bangladesh Toxicology Society Dr. Md. Abul Faiz wrote a book on snake bite and its treatment. In that, he mentioned, 'After an average of 8 hours after Gokhro snake bite, 18 hours after Keute snake bite and 72 hours or three days after Chandrabora snake bite, the patient can die. In most cases it is necessary to apply antivenom within this period.'

The Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation says it has the seventh-highest (including sea snakes) subcutaneous median lethal dose (venom level) of all snakes in the country. So Russell's viper is not the most venomous or deadliest snake in the country.

Published in 2019, Russell's Viper of Bangladesh, Its Grums and Threats on Human Being, the joint researchers of Md. Abu Said said, 'The presence of Russell's Viper has been seen in some places in 22-24 districts of the country. Although Chittagong Medical College Venom Research Center has this snake in some places of 27 districts. According to him, it is less lethal than the cobra or the coyote, but the venom of this snake is more diverse. As a result, delay in treatment creates multidimensional complications in the body. That's why antivenoms no longer work. Lungs and kidneys are gradually affected. At one point, there is a lot of blood loss, then if you give more blood, the body does not have it.'

He also said, 'Cobra or couette bites are often not felt but Russell viper bites cause immediate swelling and the snake does not go away immediately. Therefore, the patient or others can be sure that the snake is seen after the bite. A doctor can quickly administer antivenom. If so, the risk is also reduced. For this reason it is less dangerous than other venomous snakes.

The Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation says Russell's viper envenomation is treated with polyantivenom used in Bangladesh. So saying that there is no antivenom is completely false. But there is a shortage of trained doctors, antivenom supplies and ICUs.

Professor Farid Ahsan says, this snake is usually nocturnal or prefers to move at night and they are not usually found in the area of ​​people's houses. They prefer bushes, crop circles or large holes in the ground to stay. If not for the amount of mice that this snake eats, the crop production would have been damaged.

He said, they live in grass and bushes. So caution can be taken when visiting these places. If you shake it with a big stick, the snake moves away. They will only move if the farmers fall on gumboots and shake them with sticks before they land. So there is no reason for unnecessary panic. But you must be careful. -BBC.

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