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THE HERALD (Sierra Vista, Arizona) 20 August 06 Snakebites more potent in Cochise County? Experts say that seems to be case (Dana Cole)
Sierra Vista: Over the past several years, rattlesnake bites coming out of Cochise County, specifically the Sierra Vista area, have been the most severe in the state, according to experts who track and research rattlesnakes and venomous animals.
“The Sierra Vista area has been averaging about one death per five years, which is considered a high death rate,” says Jude McNally, managing director of Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. “The high acuity of these bites is a big concern for us, and it’s something we don’t quite understand.” The center has been following the area’s venomous snakebites cases, along with the care that bite victims receive at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center.
“We’ve found that the doctors are well informed and do an excellent job of treating the patients,” McNally said. “A small percentage of snakebite cases are going to be really severe anyway, depending on the species of snake and the composition of its venom.”
Sierra Vista is home to the Mohave rattlesnake, considered to be one of the most dangerous venomous snakes in the Sonoran Desert. Identified as having a neurotoxin that is not typically found in other venomous snakes, bites delivered by the Mohave rattler are extremely toxic and can be lethal.
“Because of the severity of the bite cases coming out of the Sierra Vista area, we’re very interested in researching the venom from Mohave rattlers in that region of Arizona,” McNally said.
The center is looking at the possibility of a geographic species difference as one explanation.
“When we see so many severe snakebites in Cochise County in the last five years, it makes us suspicious there is something unique going on with these particular snakes,” McNally said. Now he and other researchers are working closely with Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, Game and Fish and the UA in an effort to find answers they hope will help with treatment.
“We’re in the process of preparing some preliminary studies on snakes to see where this will take us,” McNally said. “Until we learn more, we’re concerned there may be venom components in Cochise County that we have yet to characterize.”
Some of the answers researchers are looking for could possibly come from former Sierra Vista resident Kenny Duke, who was struck by a Mohave rattler last June.
A self-taught herpetologist with a lifelong fascination for snakes, Duke possessed two special permits that allowed him to keep different species of snakes, even venomous ones, for educational purposes. In addition, he assisted the Sheriff’s Department and Game and Fish with relocation and containment of snakes and other reptiles.
Duke was bitten by one of his own Mohave rattlesnakes while reaching into its cage with tongs to change a water bowl.
“He got me on a finger on my right hand with one fang. The other fang hit the tongs,” Duke said as he described what happened. “I started feeling the neurological effects immediately.”
Knowing the urgency of his situation, Duke wasted no time seeking medical help. He immediately drove himself to Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, where he was ushered in for treatment by medical staff.
“A Mohave rattlesnake is about 10 times more dangerous than any other rattlesnake in the country,” he said. “Their venom is a neurotoxin, so I started feeling numbing in my right hand, along with some other neurological sensations right away.”
Duke recalls a tingling and numbing sensation on his lips. Then his left hand, which had not been bitten, went numb.
While en route to the hospital, he started experiencing tunnel vision.
“It was like looking down a tube, and that tube kept narrowing and narrowing.”
Duke told doctors exactly what he was experiencing, giving them a detailed account of the neurological progression as it occurred, for as long as he could. Within minutes after arriving at the hospital he started having difficulty breathing. Ultimately, he had to be intubated to keep his airway open.
“The venom starts paralyzing the nerves that innervate the diaphragm, so you could conceivably stop breathing,” Duke said. “At that point, I knew things were getting pretty serious.”
Just 15 minutes after he was bitten, Duke slipped into unconsciousness. He was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson, where he remained unconscious in the hospital’s intensive care unit for 10 days. Upon regaining consciousness, he remained hospitalized for five additional days.
During his treatment, he received six vials of antivenin at Sierra Vista’s hospital, and 48 vials at UMC.
“According to Jude (McNally), 54 vials is huge,” Duke said with a laugh.
Now fully recovered, Duke is back at work. He and his family recently moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., because of a job transfer. After the near brush with death, along with an ultimatum from his wife, Duke no longer keeps caged venomous snakes.
Blood samples taken from the herpetologist, as well as venom taken from the Mohave rattler that nearly killed him, have been submitted to researchers.
“This is the first time they had the bite victim and the snake for samples,” Duke said. “Hopefully, they’ll be able to find something out.”
A bite from a venomous snake should always be considered a medical emergency, McNally warned.
“The message that we want to get out to everyone is, don’t get bit,” she said.
Between 50 and 70 percent of the bites that are reported to the poison center were cases where the patient saw the snake, recognized the danger and placed themselves at greater risk, McNally said.
“Their behavior, after they recognized the risk, led to the bite. What that tells us is that 50 percent of the snakebites could have been prevented.”
When encountering a snake, don’t kill it, McNally advises. “If you’re close enough to kill it, then you’re close enough to get bit. Dead snakes can bite up to several hours after they’ve been killed.”
Snakes play important environmental roles, maintaining an ecological balance.
“If you don’t want rodents, then don’t kill snakes. If you keep people away, snakes move on,” McNally said.
When a snake is encountered in an area where relocation is necessary, call the appropriate agency or authorities to have it removed. Don’t attempt the relocation yourself.
Snakes are most active in the warmer months, from April through October. They prefer the cooler parts of the day such as early morning, early evening and nighttime. August and September, during the summer rains, are the worst times for human encounters with snakes. The three most common types of rattlesnakes in Cochise County are the Mohave, the western diamondback and the blacktail.
When bitten by a rattlesnake, treatment is no small cost. An average run-of- the-mill snakebite costs about $60,000 to treat.
“What we can count on is this is the time of year when snakes are out,” McNally warned. “Be cautious. Always watch where you place your feet and hands. When you’re out in the wilderness, it’s a good idea to carry a cell phone with you, in case of an emergency. Have your car keys with you and get to a hospital as soon as possible without running or rushing.”
The sooner someone can get treated when bitten by a rattlesnake, the better their outcome.
Snakebites more potent in Cochise County?

Wouldn't that be a record? I heard 52 vials was the highest amount used to treat a patient, but I could be wrong. Sure is a lot of antivenom though.
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