Boy bitten twice by black mamba, dies

News
ST LUKE’s Hospital on Monday recorded yet another snake bite death after a 13-year-old Insuza boy died at the health institution after being bitten twice by a black mamba.

ST LUKE’s Hospital on Monday recorded yet another snake bite death after a 13-year-old Insuza boy died at the health institution after being bitten twice by a black mamba.

Richard Muponde Senior Reporter

The boy, whose name could not be immediately verified, is from Siphazile village in Insuza and his body is still lying at the hospital mortuary awaiting collection by relatives for burial.

A source at the Catholic-run health institution yesterday confirmed the boy’s death.

“He was bitten by a black mamba twice, like the other man who died here last week who was bitten by a puff adder,” the source said.

“He was rushed here at around 8am on Monday and was admitted before his eventual death at around 12 noon.

“The hospital has run out of anti-venom medicine and there was nothing much the boy could receive as treatment.

“His body is still at the mortuary as relatives are still sorting out papers for burial.”

He said the whole of Lupane district had no anti-venom medicine, a situation which was likely to put the lives of villagers at risk in the event of snake bites.

The latest snake bite death comes barely a week after the hospital witnessed one; a man from Mbembesi area in Lupane died at the health institution after being bitten by a puff adder.

He was 34 years old and had been admitted at the institution for four days until his eventual death as he waited to be transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, for further treatment.

St Luke’s Hospital doctor-in-charge George Mutizira could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone to confirm the latest death.

The venom of the black mamba is highly toxic, potentially causing collapse in humans within 45 minutes, or less.

Without effective anti-venom therapy, death typically occurs after between seven and 15 hours.

The black mamba is capable of striking at considerable range and occasionally may deliver a series of bites in rapid succession.

Despite its reputation for being very aggressive, like most snakes, it usually attempts to flee from humans, unless threatened or cornered.