Man bitten by cobra in Sorsogon dies

A 21-year-old man from Barangay Somagong, Bulan, Sorsogon, died after he was bitten by a suspected Philippine cobra.

According to the victim's family, the young man was bitten while he was cleaning the fields.

"Dun sa canal po, yung tubig po lampas tuhod po yun, so hindi niya po namalayan... hindi niya po napansin na yung nakakagat sa kanya ay ano pala Philippine cobra," Jounor Advincula, the victim's sibling, said.

The victim was rushed to Bulan Medicare Hospital, where medical personnel provided first aid. However, there was no anti-venom available at the hospital.

"Pagdating naman po dito nung pasyente agad naman po siyang binigyan ng first aid, and since wala pong anti-venom na available dito sa infirmary hospital natin sa Bulan Medicare Hospital, ni-refer po siya agad sa Sorsogon Provincial Hospital, kung saan merong anti-venom," Dra. Sophia Marco Bayle, a nurse at Bulan Medicare Hospital, said.

During the transfer, the victim experienced a severe reaction and was returned to the infirmary for resuscitation, but he did not survive.

In light of the incident, medical personnel reminded the public not to resort to traditional methods such as sucking the venom out or making incisions on the bite site.

"Dapat kung merong panglinis sabon [at] tubig, linisan agad yung sugat, then lalagyan po ng dressing yung sugat mismo, tapos bawal po na dinadala rin po yun sa mga tinatawag natin dito sa probinsya yung 'paratandok,'" Bayle said.

RESCUE

Meanwhile, in Tayabas City, Quezon, the Tayabas City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) rescued a four-foot-long Philippine cobra found at a construction site in Barangay Wakas.

The cobra was found lurking in a corner by workers at the construction site.

Authorities identified the snake as a Philippine cobra, a venomous species known for its dangerous bite, which can be fatal to humans.

City ENRO personnel captured the cobra safely using a snake clamp.

"'Yung bahay kasi na pinuntahan namin may mga gamit, may mga gamit na kinain ng daga. So, sign 'yun na 'yung lugar na 'yun ay pinupuntahan ng daga... kaya nagpunta doon 'yung ahas, kasi may hinahabol na pagkain," Daryl Pabularcon, Senior Environment Management Specialist at Tayabas City ENRO, said.

The cobra was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Tayabas for proper care and handling.

Authorities advise the public to avoid harming snakes if encountered and to report sightings to the proper authorities for safe rescue. 

Under Republic Act 9147, also known as the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, collecting and owning any kind of wildlife is strictly prohibited. —GMA Regional TV

(with reports from GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia, and Paul Hernandez, GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog)