Aotearoa’s status as a haven free of venomous snakes and creepy-crawlies is no longer thanks to an uptick of sightings.
One of the world’s most invasive spiders with a “potentially sinister bite” known to cause serious infections has established a population. Meanwhile, more sightings of sea snakes, some venomous, are expected on New Zealand beaches as climate change increases.
So what do you do if you get bitten?
National Poisons Centre director Adam Pomerleau told Seven Sharp said it “might feel like there’s an increase” in reports and sightings, “the number is still very small”.
“I’d like to reassure everybody that it’s very uncommon to come across any of these creatures.”
That included sightings such as a blue-lipped sea krait washed up on a beach in Auckland’s Devonport in February, he said, with “probably only fewer than 10 or 12 a year”.
“So it’s, again, very rare but obviously, we would treat any bite – an actual bite – to a person as something that could be potentially serious.
“If you come across a snake, obviously don’t get close to it. Don’t interact with it. Don’t touch it. Call the Department of Conservation to report it and stay away from it.”
Pomerleau said in a situation where someone has been bitten, they should seek medical attention for observation.
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including Ozzy Osbourne dies, a worrying find on Rakiura Stewart Island, and new Coke coming. (Source: 1News)
“Not every bite means someone will be envenomed. They need to be observed for the development of any signs or symptoms and can be treated appropriately as the case may require.”
He said whānau wanting to stock up on anti-venom medicines as a precaution would be hard-pressed to find any at their local pharmacy.
“None of these medicines are available for over-the-counter use; they’re all medicines that would be used in a hospital setting under the care of a physician,” he said.
“There’s nothing people can go out and buy at the pharmacy or to have at home and use.”
And while it may seem like a blanket cure-all, Pomerleau said anti-venomwas just part of a treatment “in some cases”.
“Not every case is going to require antivenom, and the antivenoms themselves are not necessarily lifesaving,” he said.
“Scientific evidence has shown over the years that in particular, when we’re talking about the red back spiders or the katipō spiders, that antivenom might not do a whole lot beyond kind of standard treatments that we’d give with pain medicines or muscle relaxers.
“In that case, it’s not necessarily lifesaving, but it might be part of treatment.”
He said the “best thing” anyone who believes they’ve been bitten by a venomous spider can do is to call the Poisons Centre for help.
The teams – which are available 24/7 from anywhere in the country – can be contacted for advice at 0800 POISON (764 766).
