Cobras biting babies in KZN

[schumi]

Durban - A young Durban doctor has treated 164 patients over a four month period, most of whom were children, who were bitten by snakes in the deep rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal as they slept on floors at night.

A three-year-old girl bitten at least three times on her face, and a three-month-old baby have been among patients Mark Wagener, who is based at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, has treated.

“The majority of snake bites are from the Mozambique spitting cobra - the mfezi,” Wagener said.

Wagener has recently completed a study of the cases. He took up the study after noticing many children were being admitted for snake bites, during his days as an intern at Empangeni’s Ngwelezana Hospital.

“I wanted to get some data on it,” he said. The results showed 93 percent of snakes that had struck his patients had been identified as Mozambique spitting cobras.

More at: http://www.iol.co.za/ios/news/cobras-biting-babies-in-kzn-2056584

 

[FNfal]

If it is cold the Rinkhals will look for warmth, baby on the floor , baby move snake bites .

 

[TheChamp]

That's scary.

 

[NeonNinja]

They will grow immune to the bites.

 

[MidnightWizard]

Miss Identification

If it is cold the Rinkhals will look for warmth, baby on the floor , baby move snake bites .

Hhmm

The Rinkhals

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinkhals

is NOT a

Mozambique Spitting Cobra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique_spitting_cobra


I have seen and caught both in the wild

 

[durbandave]

More than likely the snakes enter looking for rats etc feeding of trash/food left lying around. The babies on the floor probably roll onto them and get bitten.

 

[Solarion]

The ancestors love their babies still warm and fresh.

 

[WaxLyrical]

Leave them babies.
There's food and warmth in Nkandla.

 

[Spliffcat]

RDP Houses promised.