Vaal Herpetological Association

29/07/2026

27/07/2026

🐍 ANTIVENOM CRISIS CONTINUES | POLYVALENT ANTIVENOM NOW DELAYED UNTIL 31 OCTOBER 2026 🚨

The South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP), a subsidiary of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), has released a new stakeholder communication regarding antivenom availability, and unfortunately the situation has worsened.

According to the latest update released today:

❌ Polyvalent Antivenom – Out of Stock. Expected availability: 31 October 2026
❌ Spider Antivenom – Out of Stock. Expected availability: 31 October 2026

✅ Boomslang Antivenom – Stock Available
✅ Echis Antivenom – Stock Available
✅ Scorpion Antivenom – Stock Available

This means South Africa is facing at least another three months without locally produced polyvalent antivenom, the primary antivenom used to treat severe envenomations from many of our most medically important snakes, including:

🐍 Black Mamba
🐍 Green Mamba
🐍 Cape Cobra
🐍 Forest Cobra
🐍 Snouted Cobra
🐍 Mozambique Spitting Cobra
🐍 Black Spitting Cobra
🐍 Rinkhals
🐍 Puff Adder
🐍 Gaboon Adder (where encountered)

⚠️ This should serve as a serious reminder to everyone working or living in snake-prone areas.

A severe bite from any species requiring polyvalent antivenom may now present an even greater challenge for healthcare providers due to the ongoing shortage.

It is important to note that Panafrican (PANAF) Polyvalent Antivenom has been shown to be an effective treatment option for many of the same medically important snake species treated with SAVP Polyvalent Antivenom. However, supplies of PANAF are limited in South Africa, meaning it cannot be relied upon as a guaranteed alternative during this shortage at all hospitals.

While some of the larger hospitals may still have stocks of SAVP or PANAF antivenom, availability varies considerably between facilities. Every effort should therefore be made to prevent snakebites, particularly over the coming months.

✔️ Wear appropriate PPE when working in long grass, rocky areas, or bushveld.
✔️ Never place your hands where you cannot see.
✔️ Keep workplaces and homes clear of rubbish and rodent activity that attracts snakes.
✔️ Ensure staff receive proper snake awareness and first aid training.
✔️ Have an emergency response plan in place before an incident occurs.
✔️ If a serious snakebite is suspected, seek emergency medical care immediately. Early supportive care, airway management, ventilation, and timely transport can be lifesaving, even when antivenom availability is limited.

We sincerely appreciate the continued efforts of the teams at SAVP and NHLS, who are working to restore production of these life-saving medicines. Manufacturing antivenom is a highly specialised process, and while these delays are frustrating, maintaining the highest quality and safety standards remains essential.

We will continue to share verified updates as they become available.

30/06/2026

☕ Honoured to be joining the EpicEM team this Thursday for Coffee & Cases to discuss one of the most challenging emergencies we encounter in prehospital and emergency care... snakebite.

Snakebite patients rarely arrive with a label telling us what's going to happen next.

Some walk into a clinic looking well and deteriorate rapidly hours later. Others present with dramatic local symptoms but never develop life-threatening envenomation. The challenge is knowing which is which, and making the right decisions before the patient reaches definitive care.

This week, together with the incredible team at EpicEM, we'll be exploring real snakebite cases, discussing common pitfalls in management, and looking at the practical decision-making process that influences patient outcomes long before they reach hospital.

As someone who has spent nearly two decades working in emergency medicine and has been involved in snakebite education, research, and protocol development across Southern Africa, I'm looking forward to sharing lessons learned from the field and engaging with healthcare professionals from across the country.

Whether you're a Paramedic, Emergency Care Practitioner, Nurse, Doctor, Student, or simply interested in emergency medicine, I believe you'll leave with practical knowledge that can be applied on your very next patient.

📅 Thursday, 2 July 2026
⏰ 09:00 SAST
🎙️ Hosted by the EpicEM Team
👨‍⚕️ Guest Presenter: Nick van der Walt

✅ FREE to attend
✅ CPD Accredited
✅ Live Q&A
✅ Open to all healthcare professionals

👉 Link for the session: 7ebad8cb-2b15-449d-8264-59ffc8bf25cd@17f60551-d0e0-4adb-81f9-9424c66f6e3f" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7ebad8cb-2b15-449d-8264-59ffc8bf25cd@17f60551-d0e0-4adb-81f9-9424c66f6e3f

A huge thank you to the EpicEM team for the invitation. Looking forward to an engaging discussion and seeing many of you online.

Tag a colleague who works in emergency medicine, emergency nursing, critical care, toxicology, or EMS and invite them to join us.

🐍🚑☕

02/06/2026

🐍 ANTIVENOM UPDATE FOR SOUTH AFRICA | SAVP RELEASES LATEST PRODUCTION TIMELINE 🏥

The South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP), a subsidiary of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), has released an updated statement regarding the availability and expected release dates of several critical antivenom products.

This is encouraging news for healthcare providers, emergency responders, conservation personnel, snake handlers, and communities living in high-risk snakebite areas across South Africa.

According to the latest update:

✅ Boomslang Antivenom – Stock Available
✅ Echis Antivenom – Stock Available
🦂 Scorpion Antivenom – 717 units expected for release on 19 June 2026
🐍 Polyvalent Antivenom – 1,300 units expected for release on 15 July 2026
🕷️ Spider Antivenom – Expected release on 30 July 2026

The anticipated release of additional Polyvalent Antivenom is particularly important, as this product is used in the treatment of severe envenomations from several medically significant South African snake species, including mambas, cobras, rinkhals, puff adders, and others.

While antivenom remains a critical component of managing serious envenomations, prevention remains the most effective treatment.

✔️ Wear appropriate PPE when working outdoors
✔️ Ensure emergency response plans are in place
✔️ Train staff working in high-risk environments
✔️ Seek immediate medical care following a suspected serious snakebite

We will continue to share updates as they become available.

A sincere thank you to the teams at SAVP and NHLS who continue working behind the scenes to ensure these life-saving products remain available to South Africans who need them most.

🐍🏥

29/05/2026

🐍 Quick question...

When was the last time you inspected your workplace for snake hazards?

Not snake sightings.

Snake hazards.

There’s a big difference.

Most companies wait until someone sees a snake before taking action.

By then, the risk has already become real.

The smarter question is:

👉 If you were a snake, where would you hide on your site?

Tall grass?
Under pallets?
Around drainage systems?
Behind stored materials?

You may be surprised by what you find!

Read the full article:
https://accesspd.co.za/blog/workplace-snake-hazards-how-to-identify-snake-risks-on-your-site

09/03/2026

🐍 Can You Identify a Boomslang Before It’s Too Late?

The Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is one of the most medically significant snakes in Africa.

Drop for drop, its venom is extremely potent, but the danger lies in something many people don’t expect…

Symptoms can take hours to appear. Which means many victims think they’re fine and delay treatment. Correct identification between a Boomslang and a non-venomous green or brown snake can literally save a life.

Here are a few key identification features:

✔️ Large eyes (biggest eye-to-head ratio of any Southern African snake)
✔️ Keeled scales giving the body a rough texture
✔️ Males often bright green with black markings
✔️ Females typically brown or olive
✔️ Mostly arboreal and active during the day

Because Boomslang bites can initially appear harmless, recognition of the species is critical for proper medical management.

In this article we break down:

• How to identify Boomslang correctly
• What symptoms to expect after a bite
• The correct prehospital treatment protocol

📖 Read the full protocol here: https://accesspd.co.za/blog/prehospital-snakebite-protocol-boomslang

17/02/2026

🐍 ANTIVENOM UPDATE – SAVP CONFIRMS NEW RELEASE DATES

We’ve received the latest official update from the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) regarding the availability of antivenom in South Africa.

This is important information for medical professionals, emergency services, and anyone working or living in high snakebite risk areas.

Here’s the current status:

✅ Polyvalent Antivenom – 520 units
📅 Expected release: 20 February 2026

🕷️ Spider Antivenom – 217 units
📅 Expected release: 20 February 2026

🐍 Echis Antivenom – 190 ampoules
📦 Currently available

🦂 Scorpion Antivenom
📅 Expected release: 30 March 2026

🐍 Boomslang Antivenom
📅 Expected release: 30 March 2026

Polyvalent antivenom is used to treat bites from several of the medically important snake species found in South Africa. Its availability is critical, particularly for hospitals and EMS operating in rural and high-risk areas.

It’s encouraging to see new batches being released, and we hope this will help improve access to treatment where it’s needed.

We’ll continue sharing updates as we receive them.