Anti-venom shortage prompts search for poisonous Martinique snake

Researchers and residents are combing Martinique's forests for poisonous snakes so health officials can replenish expired stocks of anti-venom.

The US$232,000 (euro170,600) government-financed project began this month after emergency room doctors noted that available anti-venom _ derived from venom collected about 20 years ago _ had lost its effectiveness.

Most snakebite patients are receiving higher doses than usual to compensate for the weakened single doses, according to the Health and Social Development Administration.

Local media reported on Sunday that researchers and residents are searching for at least 20 trigonocephale snakes, featured on the French Caribbean island's coat of arms.

More than 150 of the island's population of roughly 400,000 were bitten by the snake and injected with anti-venom from 1993 to 2003, according to the health department. Newer numbers were not available.