title: [The problem of intoxication in the population of the Republic of Guinea due to venomous snake bites].
abstract: Intoxication of the population of Guinea due to venomous snake bites (100-150 intoxications per 100,000 with an 18% mortality rate) is a serious public health problem in the Republic of Guinea. Guinea's fauna of venomous snakes is diverse and numbers 20 species that are dangerous to human beings. The representatives of the family Elapidae (cobras and mambas) whose venom is highly toxic (LD50 5-12 mg) are responsible for the bulk (59.6%) of their bites. There has been recently an increase in the number of deaths from venomous snake bites, as high as 60% of the patients consulting a doctor being notified in one of the prefectures. At the same time the situation associated with the availability of antisnake serum is critical in the country due to its minute amount and to the inaccessibility of its high prices. By taking into account the great demand for the serum in Guinea, as everywhere over West Africa (thousands of doses every year), its manufacture may be profitable for potential investors and partners of the Pasteur Institute of Guinea.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bal'de
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Konstantinov
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kamara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D016701:Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity; D014688:Venoms / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D012910:Snake Venoms; D014688:Venoms