Habu trimeresurus flavoviridis bites on the amami islands of japan in 1979
Sawai, Y.; Kawamura, Y.
Snake 16(1): 1-6
1984
Accession: 005546372
In 1979, 201 bites by habu (T. flavoviridis) were found on the Amami Islands in which 57 (28.4%) were reported from the Amami Main Island and 144 (71.6%) were from Tokunoshima Island. The average morbidity rate per 1000 population as 1.69 in which the highest was 5.54 in Isen Town of Tokunoshima and the lowest was 0.25 in Naze City. During 7 mo. from March-Sept. 170 (84.6%) of the total bites occurred. The highest incidence of bites was seen in the ages of 40's (24.4%), and the next was 50's (20.4%), although the ages of bites were widely distributed from teen to 70's. Bites in males were 3 times as frequent as those in females. Of the bites, 117 (58.2%) occurred in agricultural field and 44 (21.9%) were in residence which indicated the close proximity between habu and human life. Although habu is nocturnal, 146 (73.4%) of the total bites occurred during daylight hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 53 (26.6%) bites were found at night time. Most bites occurred in extremities; 62.4% of the total bites occurred in upper extremities and 32.7% were in lower extremities. In 201 bites no death was reported and necrosis of tissues at the locus of bite occurred in 20 cases in which 10 (5%) led to motor disturbances after the wound had healed.