B.C. CDC and Seattle zoo combine forces to save life of snakebite victim

[Emily]

This isn't about a disease threat, but I thought I'd post it here because it is an inspiring story about a lifesaving public health response and the international cooperation between a public health agency and a zoo in another country.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020621733_snakebitexml.html?prmid=obinsite

Originally published March 22, 2013 at 1:50 PM | Page modified March 22, 2013 at 2:39 PM
Snakebit man saved by antivenin from Woodland Park Zoo

Also he was saved by some awesome detective work done by the B.C. CDC:

Michael Lovatt of Vancouver, B.C., had not realized he'd been bitten by a viper on his foot, but when the 61-year-old returned home on Monday, he was ill and was diagnosed with kidney failure after being rushed to the hospital. His legs were swollen from his foot to his mid-thigh.

But not knowing what bit him, doctors called in help from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. The medical team determined based on Lovatt's symptoms that he was bitten by a Fer-de-lance Bothrops asper, which is native to Central and South America and is known to be deadly to humans.

http://woodlandparkzblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/british-columbia-man-bitten-by-viper.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WoodlandParkZBlog+%28Woodland+Park+Zoo+Blog+|+Naturally+Inspiring%29