Get bit by a coral snake and die

[tyler811]

Not what the article is really about but once again human life takes a backseat to the almighty dollar.

About 70 percent of Louisiana hospitals have enough antidote to treat one serious bite, or about 12 vials, Ryan said. That doesn’t count injuries from the rare but dangerous coral snake, however. The cure for that critter’s venom has been in short supply ever since the drug’s longtime manufacturer, Wyeth Pharm., decided to pull the plug on the low-profit product.
“We have six vials left in the state,” Ryan said. “It’s almost to a critical point right now.”
Pfizer Inc., which bought Wyeth last year, has no plans to start making North American Coral Snake Antivenin again. A Mexican drug manufacturer makes an anti-venom, called Coralmyn, but it is not licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Remaining coral snake anti-venom supplies are set to expire in October, although the FDA could extend the shelf life. Once it’s all expired or used, coral snake victims will have to take their chances on surviving the venom, which paralyzes nerves and muscles, causing respiratory distress and, sometimes, death.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37576973/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf/?gt1=43001

 

[her209]

The coral snake seemed pretty docile during the times Steve Irwin handled them.

 

[SandEagle]

Snake? SNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!!

 

[Gibsons]

The coral snake seemed pretty docile during the times Steve Irwin handled them.

They aren't that aggressive and they have a small mouth, but the venom is very nasty.

 

[zinfamous]

well.


that pretty much sucks.

 

[mrjminer]

And people wonder why everyone hates pharmaceutical companies

They could AT LEAST allow other companies to make the anti venom. It's going to be interesting when someone gets bitten by a coral snake and dies/incurs lasting damages as a result. Our screwed up legal system would probably allow them to sue Pfizer for a shitton of money and win (since, effectively, it could be proven that they had the capability to prevent the death, but chose not to)

 

[Gibsons]

And people wonder why everyone hates pharmaceutical companies

They could AT LEAST allow other companies to make the anti venom. It's going to be interesting when someone gets bitten by a coral snake and dies/incurs lasting damages as a result. Our screwed up legal system would probably allow them to sue Pfizer for a shitton of money and win (since, effectively, it could be proven that they had the capability to prevent the death, but chose not to)

There's nothing afaict preventing anyone else from making antivenom. From a technical standpoint it isn't very difficult.

 

[mrjminer]

There's nothing afaict preventing anyone else from making antivenom. From a technical standpoint it isn't very difficult.

I'm thinking they have some sort of copyright on it, though; the article implies they acquired the formula from the company they bought out.

 

[spidey07]

There's nothing afaict preventing anyone else from making antivenom. From a technical standpoint it isn't very difficult.

Yep. AFAIK, anti-venom is actually made from the real venom. While it sucks, always remember.

"Red on yellow, kill a fellow.
Red on black, good for jack."

 

[Gibsons]

I'm thinking they have some sort of copyright on it, though; the article implies they acquired the formula from the company they bought out.

Where in the article was that implied?

If you'd like to make antivenom, I can tell you how, lots of people could. Just be ready to invest a lot of money on startup, and expect very low sales volume.

 

[thepd7]

obamacare will fix this

 

[grrl]

Where in the article was that implied?

If you'd like to make antivenom, I can tell you how, lots of people could. Just be ready to invest a lot of money on startup, and expect very low sales volume.

This.

 

[spidey07]

So just get it from australia. Pretty sure they have coral snakes.

You want to get mad the get mad at the FDA. They're the ones stopping hospitals from getting it.

 

[pnho]

With the current regulatory environment with the FDA and consolidation of the pharmaceutical industry. Lots of drugs will face this situation.

 

[mephiston5]

Last year, my dog had a snake pinned down against my fence...

Sure enough, it was a coral snake. Granted, all it wanted to do was get away from the dog...good thing for the dog. I have been pretty careful cutting the grass since then.

 

[Analog]

Not to be confused with the non-venomous milk snake:

 

[spidey07]

Hence my red on black good for jack. Known that sincei was a wee tenderfoot boyscout.

 

[speg]

I ******* hate snakes.

 

[Unheard]

Hence my red on black good for jack. Known that sincei was a wee tenderfoot boyscout.

Red on Yellow, Kill a Fellow, Red on Black, You're safe Jack.

Coral snakes are interesting to say the least. They are very docile, and often can be handled for hours before they decide to bite you.

 

[alkemyst]

coral snakes also have to more or less chew their venom in. You can get struck and not have an issue esp with clothing.

 

[spidey07]

Red on Yellow, Kill a Fellow, Red on Black, You're safe Jack.

Coral snakes are interesting to say the least. They are very docile, and often can be handled for hours before they decide to bite you.

They always throw me off because they don't have the tell-tale viper signs or eyes or head shape.

Either way, kill it with fire unless you are sure. I won't kill a helpful snake. Now if a snake bites me, I'm killing it and taking it to the hospital to say "this is what bit me". Don't ask me about the 6 foot black snack that chomped on my hand. I would have preferred he stayed around but that action made me grab his tail and whip him around at 1,000 RPM until his head looked like a bloody rag.

 

[Gibsons]

They always throw me off because they don't have the tell-tale viper signs or eyes or head shape.

Either way, kill it with fire unless you are sure. I won't kill a helpful snake. Now if a snake bites me, I'm killing it and taking it to the hospital to say "this is what bit me". Don't ask me about the 6 foot black snack that chomped on my hand. I would have preferred he stayed around but that action made me grab his tail and whip him around at 1,000 RPM until his head looked like a bloody rag.

Yep, when you get to the emergency room, you might be incoherent or unconscious. Good to have a bloody corpse in your hand so they know.

The whole revenge thing is a bonus.

 

[MedicBob]

Rear fanged.

I did handle several when I was a bit younger. Get bit = laying there as they chew up the webbing between your toes/fingers until they finally get their fangs in.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

survival of the fittest

 

[SKORPI0]

Coral snakes possess the most potent venom of any North American snakes, and they can be found in a number of southern states from North Carolina to Texas, although they account for less than 1% of venomous snake bites in the U.S. There are several reasons they don't claim more human victims -- they have short fangs that have difficulty penetrating clothing, they are more reclusive than most other snakes, and they typically inject only a relatively small quantity of venom when they bite. Any skin penetration, however, is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Coral snakes have a powerful neurotoxic venom that paralyzes the breathing muscles. The following symptoms are characteristic of coral snake envenomation:

• nausea;
• drowsiness;
• vomiting;
• excessive salivation;
• difficulty breathing; and
• paralysis.

It is important to note that coral snake bites do not result in significant swelling, discoloration or pain, and effects of the venom may take hours to develop.