The public should beware of venomous snakes during tomb-sweeping or other outdoor activities, because spring has arrived and snakes are coming out of hibernation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
There are 16 species of poisonous snakes in the nation, six of which are capable of severely wounding or even killing humans, said Jean-Jay Mao (毛俊傑), an assistant professor in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at National Ilan University.
“The six dangerous snakes are the Taiwanese krait, the Taiwan cobra, the Siamese Russell’s viper, the Taiwan habus, or pointed-scale pit viper, the Taiwan bamboo viper, and the hundred pacer, or Chinese moccasin,” Mao said.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
“The venom of the first two contains hemorrhagic toxins, the venom of the last three contains neurotoxins and the Russell’s vipers’ venom contains both types of toxins,” he added.
People who plan to go to mountainous areas should wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and boots for protection against snake bites, he said.
“Carrying a stick to probe an area before stepping into it is necessary and effective. People should also avoid putting their hands or feet into crevasses, holes or bushes without caution, and should carry a torch if they venture into places with little light,” Mao said.
Liu Yu-lun (劉宇倫), a disease prevention physician working at the CDC, offered instructions on the steps to follow if bitten by a snake.
“The first thing is to stay calm and try to remember the distinguishing marks of the snake, such as its shape, color and other features,” Liu said.
“Apply an elastic bandage or the like 5cm to 10cm from the bite. Keep the affected limb lower than the heart. Take off all metallic products from the bitten extremity. Do not try to suck the venom out of the snakebite, and take the victim to hospital immediately,” he added.
According to CDC statistics, about 1,000 people in Taiwan fall victim to snakebites every year, mostly by the Taiwan bamboo viper, the Taiwan habus and the Taiwan cobra.
The center said that the mortality rate from snakebites is very low in Taiwan, and with a large amount of antivenom in storage, the rate is expected to be less than 1 percent.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS