It’s snake bite season, as far as the numbers go.
Since January, there have been a total 730 cases of snake bites — the only known death has so far been that of the Standard One child in Kelantan two weeks ago — and most of them have occurred in northern states.
Over the past month, schools in the northern region including Kedah, Perlis and parts of Pahang have been forced to close due to the El Nino-induced hot weather.
Snakes too, have been driven out of their natural habitat because of the excessive heat.
“This because reptiles such as snakes would usually emerge from their natural habitat in search of cooler places when the temperature around them increases,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam was quoted as saying in a report by the New Straits Times.
Kedah recorded the most number of cases with 195, followed by Perak with 107. Selangor has so far had 78 cases.
Subramaniam said anti-venom treatment has been made available at 139 hospitals throughout the country.
