Snake bites soar as exotic pet craze leads to rise in number of incidents recorded in UK

dailystar.co.uk:

snake bites.In just over a decade, 321 bites were registered by the National Poisons Information Service. Of those attacked, 15 had severe symptoms.READ NEXT: UK turned into nation of zombies as heatwave wrecks sleep – and sex livesVictims included 72 children – of whom 13 were five or younger, researchers say.Professor David Warrell from the University of Oxford said: “Our results show an overall increase in the number of exotic snake bites reported to the NPIS compared to previous figures.“Most of these bites occur to fingers, hands and wrists following deliberate handling interaction by people who keep snakes as part of their occupation or hobby.“While ownership of many poisonous species requires a special licence in the UK, it is recognised some individuals may keep these snakes illegally – meaning the true numbers of exotic snake bite injuries may be underestimated.”Around two-thirds of UK bites happened to men.Up to five million people worldwide are bitten by snakes annually, with 400,000 survivors left disabled or disfigured.A majority of UK bites (60%) were inflicted by Colubridae family snakes –including hognose snakes and false water cobras.One in 100 UK households now owns a snake as a pet – with dangerous or exotic breeds carrying more status.In 2011, Luke Yeomans, 47, died after being attacked by a king cobra at his snake sanctuary in Nottingham.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.Contrary to the myth, sucking out venom could actually speed up poison’s passage into the blood.It comes after RSPCA warned that pet snakes are “more likely to escape” during a scorching heatwave as they are more active in the summer months.The reptiles are “excellent.