Travel and poisonous animals: How to prevent dangerous bites
The danger posed by venomous animals in vacation destinations varies depending on the destination and activity. Nevertheless, "serious or even fatal incidents involving venomous animals are rare," says Benno Kreuels of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) in Hamburg. Statistically, far more travelers die in traffic accidents than in an animal encounter. "Nevertheless, a bite can be unpleasant and painful."
There are an estimated 4,000 species of snakes worldwide. 600 of these are considered venomous and 200 potentially dangerous to humans, most of which live in subtropical and tropical regions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that venomous snakes cause more than 100,000 deaths annually.
"Snakes can sometimes be dangerous for travelers if they feel cornered. Therefore, you should always give them enough space to retreat," explains Kreuels.
But there are also snake species that lurk hidden in grass or thickets, waiting for prey. "A warm, bare foot can easily be mistaken for a rat," says the specialist in internal medicine, tropical medicine, and infectious diseases. Sturdy footwear, preferably ankle-high, is therefore a must when hiking.
"A mosquito net is also helpful – and not just against annoying insects," says Kreuels. "The dangling ends should be tucked under the mattress. This also protects you from snakes at night." You should also never reach into caves or under rocks.
What should you do after a snake bite? "Don't panic and first immobilize the affected body part – usually the leg," advises the doctor. Muscle contraction causes the venom to spread more quickly. "Then get to the hospital as quickly as possible."
Kreuels isn't a big fan of suction and tying off. "Especially when tying off, you can do a lot of things wrong – in the worst case, the body part dies," he warns, advising instead, if possible without risking yourself, to take a photo of the snake. This will help the doctor assess the condition.
And how threatening are spiders? "Most are poisonous, but relatively harmless to humans," says Kreuels. This also applies to the unjustly feared tarantula. Its bite is usually relatively harmless, its effect comparable to a wasp sting.
Exceptions include the western and southern black widow spiders, which live throughout the Americas, the banana spider, or wandering spider, which is particularly common in Brazil, and the Australian funnel-web spiders. "The bites of these spiders are not only very painful, but can also cause systemic symptoms." For example, the venom of the black widow can cause not only severe pain but also sweating, tearing, and salivation, while the venom of the banana spider can also cause vomiting, shock, and pulmonary edema.
However, deaths are extremely rare and occur almost exclusively after the bite of an Australian funnel-web spider, which is found only in a limited geographical region in southeastern Australia.
The Brazilian wandering spider is found in the dry and humid tropical forests of Central and South America.
Source: IMAGO/Dreamstime
"Even a scorpion sting can be very painful," says the specialist. The animals are generally nocturnal, hiding under rocks, leaves, or sand during the day. "In some regions of North Africa, the Near and Middle East, South Asia, and Central and South America, there are scorpions that can cause life-threatening poisoning in humans, especially children and older adults. The same rules apply to the treatment of spider and scorpion bites as for snake bites: keep the victim calm and get to the hospital quickly."
An aggressive thick-tailed scorpion of the species Parabuthus with raised tail and stinger.
Source: IMAGO/Zoonar
"An often underestimated danger lurks in the water," says Kreuels. Contact with jellyfish can be not only extremely painful, but also fatal.
Among the most venomous species are box jellyfish, such as the sea wasps. People repeatedly die after coming into contact with their approximately three-meter-long tentacles. These creatures are native throughout the Indo-Pacific, with relatively large distribution areas along the northern and eastern coasts of Australia, as well as in the coastal regions of Thailand and Malaysia, which are popular with vacationers. While beaches in Australia are generally protected by nets, this is usually not the case in other countries, and isolated fatalities occur every year.
Those affected should leave the water as quickly as possible. Treating the affected skin areas with acetic acid (white vinegar) for at least 30 seconds and carefully removing tentacles and their venom capsules is recommended for all cases of poisoning by unidentifiable jellyfish in tropical waters. Never use fresh water or alcohol, warns Kreuels, as this would activate unused venom capsules on the skin and worsen the poisoning.
The stonefish cannot be left out of the list of venomous animals. Its native habitat is the tropical Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea. Its dorsal fin spines can pierce both beach shoes and wetsuits. If you step on a stonefish lying motionless in the sand, the spines of its dorsal fin will pierce the skin, releasing its venom beneath the skin.
Acute onset of severe pain is the main symptom, usually followed by soft tissue swelling, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, and headaches. In rare cases, heart failure with pulmonary edema and cardiac arrhythmias can lead to death.
Last but not least, a warning should be given to the weever fish. Hidden in the sand or mud, this fish, equipped with venomous spines, is almost impossible to spot. Its sting causes stabbing pain, severe joint pain, and swelling, and in the worst cases, life-threatening allergic shock and cardiac arrest.
Weever fish on the sea floor. The sting of this poisonous fish causes severe pain and, in the worst case, death.
Source: IMAGO/imagebroker
The weever fish is found almost everywhere in the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and also in the North and Baltic Seas. However, the fish is not found in the Wadden Sea.
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