A Florence resident is currently in serious condition following a bite from a highly venomous snake. Authorities have confirmed that a total of 14 snakes were euthanized in response to the incident.
Jeffrey Leibowitz made an urgent call to 911 around 2 a.m. on Friday when he was bitten by a snake inside his Marion Street home. However, it took officials several hours to discover that the snake responsible for the attack was an inland taipan.
Authorities were alerted at approximately 9 a.m. about the dangerous nature of Leibowitz’s bite. Subsequently, a search warrant was obtained for his residence after observing his public Facebook account, which featured posts of him interacting with snakes.
Leibowitz’s condition continued to be serious as of Monday night.
State wildlife officials were contacted by authorities for assistance on how to handle and store the snakes, according to Florence Police Capt. Stephen Starling on Monday night.
The search resulted in the discovery of a variety of animals, including two cats and fourteen snakes. Among the snakes found were a green mamba, two gaboon vipers, a fer-de-lance, a death adder, an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, two black forest cobras, two adult rattlesnakes (species unknown), two neotropical rattlesnakes, a small rattlesnake (species unknown), and an inland taipan.
According to Jeff Camper, a biologist and snake specialist at Francis Marion University, the bite was caused by an Australian inland taipan. This particular species is known for having the world’s most potent venom.
“It contains harmful substances that can affect human health, including neurotoxic and cardiotoxic components,” he explained. “The venom is extremely dangerous and potent,” he warned.
According to Camper, venom types can vary from snake to snake, resulting in symptoms such as throbbing pain, intense swelling, and skin discoloration.
According to Camper, a single bite from the same type of snake that attacked the man has the potential to be fatal for up to 100 individuals. An individual on Marion Street received prompt medical attention from first responders, who utilized an antivenom that was swiftly transported from Florida.
According to Camper, Leibowitz may have a challenging road to recovery ahead.
His body may soon begin to shut down. According to Camper, it seems that the patient requires a respirator in order to maintain their breathing, possibly due to paralysis of the diaphragm. There is a possibility of enduring or irreversible harm to multiple organs.
Florence police state that while there are no specific laws against these animals, there may be potential violations of state regulations if they are sold, transported, or rehomed.
Officials reached out to various facilities, such as Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, Alligator Adventure, Reptile Lagoon, and Edisto Island Serpentarium, in order to secure temporary accommodations and ensure the snakes receive appropriate care.
They all declined to take in the snakes because of concerns about their health and the impact on the environment, including their living conditions and potential illnesses.
Source: WBTW Myrtle Beach on Yahoo! News
