No anti-venom supply in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu does not have any anti-venom supplies.

This is the sad reality confronting the province amid the rash of sightings of snakes, especially the banakon (king cobra) in the mountainous areas of Cebu and even in Cebu City.

In a press conference yesterday, Dr. Beethoven Bongon, a toxicologist at the Department of Emergency Medicine of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Bongon said anti-venom vials for Central Visayas are expected to arrive in June 2024 yet, as the Department of Health-7 continues to train personnel to identify snake bites and on the appropriate first aid.

He, however, said that not all snake bites require anti-venom and that there are alternative ways to treat patients bitten by snakes.

“Dili tanan napaakan og bitin nagkinahanglan og injection-nan og anti-venom dayon. Kay risgo man sad na pataka lang ka og inject sa anti-venom kay posible ang patient mo-develop siya og allergies nga posible mosaka iyang blood pressure, maglisud og ginhawa, ug uban pa. So, dili gyud na siya basta-basta i-inject,” he said.

In the same press conference, Dr. Shelbay Blanco, head of the Regional Health Emergency Management Services (RHEMS) of the Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development, said that based on their records, none of the snake bite patients in the region have died from 2021 to 2023.

In particular, Cebu, Siquijor, and Bohol had zero snake bite cases and nine cases in Negros Oriental in 2021. In 2022, Negros Oriental and Siquijor had zero cases, one in Bohol, and 16 in Cebu. In 2023, Siquijor had zero case, one in Bohol, 15 in Negros Oriental, and 30 in Cebu.

Blanco, however, said it was not indicated in the reports whether or not the victims were bitten by venomous snakes, only that no one died among them.

He said the sightings of snakes in Cebu could be due to climate change, like the El Niño phenomenon which has caused high temperatures.

Snakes, Blanco said, love to stay in a cool environment and this time is their mating season.

“Usa sad sa posible nga rason kaning deforestation sa atong mga bukid kay na-disturb na ang natural habitat sa mga bitin. Unya mating season sad gyud ron nila mao nanggawas na sila,” he further said.

Both Bongon and Blanco advised that in case of snake bites, the wound or bite area must be wash with clean water and soap and wrapped with clean cloth.

A tourniquet should also not be used, the victim should stay calm, and he should be immediately brought to the nearest hospital.

“Ayaw gyud supsopa ang samad kay mao na niya nay magdala og infection. Dili butangan og tourniquet nga mosamot ang hubag labi na hugton og higot, unya dili mag-panic,” said Blanco.

Panicking causes the heart to beat faster and for the venom to spread faster into the bloodstream.

“Mga 99 percent sa mga napaakan og bitin diri sa Cebu kay dili venomous ang mga bitin,” Bongon said.

 Both health officials said that the King cobra and most snakes live in the mountainous areas and not in urban areas.

“Usually, adto ra gyud ni sila sa rural areas, ilabi na kanang daghan og sagbot. Most snakes mangagawas na sila og buntag, maong naay gyud maapakan kani atong mga farmers. Ang advisednamo nga mag-wear gyud og protective gear like boots,” Blanco said.

“PROACTIVE MEASURES”

In Cebu City, Mayor Rama yesterday said he expects concerned City Hall departments to institute “proactive measures” regarding the sightings of snakes, especially that on the banakon.

He made the instruction during his own program via City Hall’s social media platform Sugboanon channel, where he first made a lighthearted answer that snakes are everywhere in our lives and then shifted to a serious tone that these snake sightings should indeed concern everyone.

“Kaning bitin nga nanggawas, mura pud ni’g kaning mga isda nga nangabot na sa lapyahan. It will bring us certain concern. Never a time nga nanggawas nang mga bitin. Never a time nga daghan ang isda mupadong sa lapyahan…adto man ta na sila padung sa lawod,” Rama said.

He said it is best for everyone to be careful.

“Ang bitin, adto man gyud na sa mabugnaw…di na gusto sa mainit. Unya karon manggawas sila, wala tay drought, wala sad tay famine…naay mga explanation. Best thing is magbantay ta,” Rama said.

He said he expects the City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), the City Health Department (CHD), and the Quick Response Team are already “cognizant” of the situation, as far as safety and medicines for snake bites are concerned.

“For sure by now, cognizant na ang atong DVMF, City Health… atoang Quick Response Team…I will be following it through how far are their pro-active measures…. Importante na ang ilang pangandam,” he further said.

Last Jan. 10, the City Council, through a resolution filed by Councilor Rey Gealon, urged the CHD to store anti-venom, after it was found out that it has none. – RHM  (CEBU NEWS)