Snakes give me the crawlies. And when I dream about snakes, it is a sure fire thing God's whispering in my ear of major pending trouble. Mindboggling to think that each year some 250 million people are bitten by venomous snakes. I'd die immediately, venom or not, of cardio malfunction from a snake bite.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched a new database of snake information in hopes to curtail the millions of bites, with 300,000 resulting in amputations. It is an online snake guide that will identify snakes in your area or if you have travel plans involving nature or outdoor areas, it's a definite quick help guide.
Some of the most snake infested areas are transition areas between forests and farmlands. Fragmented forests extend from west Texas to Florida and into Canada. You can bet my next out-of-state bike ride will include a bit of snake database beforehand.
Bites are obviously a big problem if it snags WHO's attention. Their database also includes an image library, a distribution list of venomous species within an area and access to info on snake bite treatment or antivenom products. It is an interesting website with tons of facts and maps.
For many, snakes are not a pleasant topic, but for those who'd like to know more, you can cut and paste the following link - - http://apps.who.int/bloodproducts/snakeantivenoms/database/default.htm
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