THE STANDARD (Warrnambool, Australia) 04 January 05 Supplies of snake cure OK (Hanna Mills)
South-West veterinary surgeons are breathing easier after a critical shortage in antivenom during the peak snake-bite season was averted.
Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, which makes the tiger-brown snake antivenom, changed its manufacturing process towards the end of last year.
Problems getting the process approved by the regulatory body in the slowdown before Christmas meant supplier Pfizer Australia was unable to keep up with demand.
However, Pfizer media affairs manager Craig Regan said a verbal approval from the regulator in mid-December meant the antivenom was able to continue distribution.
``We were short for a couple of weeks,'' he said.
``But it's the type of thing people wouldn't have noticed unless they needed it.''
Australian Veterinary Association president and Timboon vet, Matt Makin, confirmed the antivenom shortage had affected south-west vet clinics.
``There were a number of vets with none on hand,'' he said.
``The only alternative would have been to source it from a hospital.''
Dr Makin said it was pure luck that a beloved pet in the Timboon district did not die as a result of a snake bite during the Christmas period.
``I was on call over Christmas and it was just luck that I didn't have any snake bites,'' he said.
``Any shortage is of concern and should be to pet owners because we are in the peak of snake bite season.''
``It's certainly a product that supply is essential.''
Mr Regan said Pfizer warehouses were now well stocked with the antivenom.
``It wasn't critically low but it was running pretty low.''
Suzan Morey, a South West Healthcare spokeswoman, said hospital supplies were at the regular levels.
``We have the normal supply we deem appropriate for the Warrnambool and Camperdown communities,'' she said.
Supplies of snake cure OK