Rain brings out snakes: Doctor

THE risk of getting bitten by a snake is higher during the rainy season, a medical doctor say.
Dr Sam Yockopua, the chief emergency medicine at Port Moresby General Hospital, said wet weather brought snakes out to look for food or a dry, warm place to rest and sleep.
“Snakes tend to feed or look for food during rainy seasons because that’s when rats, frogs and insects come out and snakes feed on them,” he said.
Dr Yockopua said snakes sought warm shelter during floods and rainy seasons and could come into houses.
“They could even come into you house and rooms to seek shelter.”
Dr Yockopua said with water levels rising, snakes were able to adapt and swim.
For safety, Dr Yockopua encouraged people to have good lighting in the house and check the house and rooms carefully before going to sleep. He advised people to dispose of rubbish properly, keep house bright with light, lawns short, ground clean and clear at all times and to check corners of the house during wet seasons.
Some of the dangerous snakes in the country include: Papuan Black (Pseudechis Papuanus), Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis), Papuan Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) andDeathadders (Acanthophis laevis and Acanthophis rugosus).
Dr Yockopua said snake bites were preventable if safety measures were taken.
He said the hospital had good anti-venoms available at present.