ONGOTI bezibiba zezinyoka bakhathazekile ngokushoda kwemithi elapha isihlungu esingena ngokulunywa yinyoka kuleli, njengoba abelapha izilwane belinda kuze kuphele izinyanga eziyisithupha uma be-ode lemithi.
Le mithi ebizwa nge-anti-venom, ikhiqizwa yinkampani eyodwa kuleli, ayikwazi ukukhiqiza imithi eyanele ekwazi ukwelapha ubuthi obutholakala ngokulunywa yizinyoka ezehlukene ezinesihlungu esiyingozi, ezitholakala kuleli. Isitokwe esikhona kuthiwa kasenele.
UMnuz Johan Marais, oyisikhulu se-African Snakebite Institute, uthe: “Kuyinhlekelele ukuthi odokotela bezilwane abakwazi ukuthola umuthi onamandla okwazi ukwelapha ubuthi bezinyoka esikhathini lapho izinyoka ezigcwele ngaso emphakathini ngoba kuyisikhathi sazo.
Imithi yokwelapha ubuthi bezinyoka ikhiqizwa kuphela yiSouth African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) engaphansi kwesikhungo sabacwaningi bezempilo kuzwelonke kuleli, iNational Health Labolatory Services (NHLS). Lo muthi usiza ekwelapheni ubuthi bezinyoka, imamba emnyama, imamba elihlaza, ibululu, imfezi nezinye izinyoka eziyingozi ezitholakala kuleli.
Uthe lo muthi usetshenziswa wodokotela bezilwane uma belapha izilwane ezilunywe yizinyoka nabantu abalunywe yizinyoka.
UMnuz Mzimasi Gcukumana weNHLS, ucashunwe kweminye imithombo yezindaba, ethi benza konke okusemandleni ukuthi bakhiqize imithi ukuze kwehle isikhathi sokulinda.
Okhulumela uMnyango wezeMpilo kuzwelonke, uMnuz Foster Mohale, uthe okwamanje kabanayo inkontileka neSAVP yize inemithi ebalulekile.
UMohale uthe iSAVP yazisa umnyango ngobunzima bokuthola izithako ezihlanganiswa uma kwakhiwa lo muthi, okuyimbangela yokukwehla kwesitokwe. Uthe akanazo izibalo zokuthi isitokwe esikhona singakanani ngoba isifundazwe ngasinye sizithengela sona ngqo kwiSAVP.