If someone is bitten, treat it as a medical emergency and get them to De Oude Pastorie Clinic as quickly and calmly as possible (see page 3).
of snake venom are injected into the horses over many months. The doses are slowly increased as the horses’ immune systems learn to recognise and neutralise the toxins. After roughly nine months the horses are 'hyperimmune' – packed with antibodies. Blood is then drawn, the plasma is separated from the blood cells, and the antibodies are purified and bottled as antivenom. Today the work once done by SAIMR falls under the National Health
and, by this winter, many hospitals were very low or completely out. What does that mean for us? Quite simply, prevention matters more than ever. Most snakes want nothing to do with us; many bites happen when snakes are provoked, cornered or accidentally stepped on. Sensible shoes in long grass, a torch at night, teaching children to leave snakes alone and keeping dogs on leads near rivers and just being aware - all reduce the risk.
Laboratory Service, through its South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) unit. For years SAVP supplied snake, scorpion and spider antivenom not only to South African hospitals but to other African countries as well. That makes the current crisis all the more worrying. A combination of ageing facilities, essential upgrades and power problems has meant that no fresh batches of snake antivenom have been produced for many months. Stocks have dwindled
And if you see a snake in your garden or near your home, don’t try to catch or kill it. Keep your distance, keep pets and children away, keep your eyes on the snake, try to remember its colouring and size – and be sure to call one of our trained snake catchers in the village. (See page 2).
MILDLY VENOMOUS
MILDLY VENOMOUS
MILDLY VENOMOUS
MILDLY VENOMOUS
MILDLY VENOMOUS
SPOTTED HARLEQUIN SNAKE Homoroselaps lacteus
SPOTTED SKAAPSTEKER Psammophylax rhombeatus
CROSS-MARKED GRASS SNAKE Psammophis crucifer
KAROO SAND SNAKE Psammophis notostictus
mboeia
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THE GREYTON POST
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
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