Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Starting in 2009, Peru will export to Bolivia, Ecuador, and other Latin American countries an antidote for snake poison in powder presentation, which has been developed by scientists of the Peruvian National Institute of Health (INS) administered by Peru’s Ministry of Health.

This product (anti-ophidic serum, freeze-dried into powder) is used in the treatment of venomous snakebites or stings, such as Bothrops, Lachesis and Rattlesnakes, which often live in the Amazon Rainforest, INS director Patricia García.

In Latin America, only Colombia and Costa Rica have developed this antidote in powder presentation, with the same properties of the liquid presentation.

It must be dissolved before it can be injected by using intravenous syringe, she stated.

“It works as an immediate painkiller, so the victim can go to the hospital and be treated. We launched this serum two weeks ago and it is produced by the Peruvian National Institute of Health (INS) only. We are starting to produce a new batch to be finished in December,” she told Andina news agency.

News source: ANDINA