Story at a glance
- An African bush viper bite can cause fever, impaired breathing, severe inflammation, hemorrhaging and death.
- There is no known antivenom for an African bush viper bite, but there have been successful therapies used in treatments.
A wildlife care specialist at the San Diego Zoo was hospitalized on Monday after being bitten by a venomous snake.
The employee was in a secure area closed off from the public caring for an African bush viper before when they were bitten by the snake. The care specialist was then taken to the hospital around 2 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
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“In keeping with our protocols, the staff member was immediately taken to a hospital for evaluation and medical care, and we remain in close contact,” the zoo said in a statement. “Although the San Diego Zoo cares for a number of venomous reptiles, incidents like this are very rare, and the snake was contained at all times with no risk of an escape.”
The venom from an African bush viper bite can cause fever, impaired breathing, severe inflammation, hemorrhaging and tissue death, and can kill a person within days, according to National Geographic.
However, while there is no known antivenom for an African bush viper bite, there have been successful therapies used in treatments.
The employee’s condition is not known at this time.
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