Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Bothrops lanceolatus
Trigonocéphale, Fer de lance de la Martinique
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothrops_lanceolatus
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Translation Google
Martinique
Following the death of a man, the University Hospital of Martinique reminds the public of the procedure to follow in case of a snake bite.
A 45-year-old gardener died after being bitten by a snake in Schœlcher. This is the first such death in 20 years. Snake bites are on the rise; two other people were taken to the university hospital on Thursday, February 19. Watch the report with footage by Thierry Sokkan.
By Inès Tresident-Ranguin
Published on February 22, 2026 at 03:00
In the hills above Terreville, the fer-de-lance can appear at any moment. This resident is well aware of this. He never walks through his garden without his boots and gloves.
“I’ve been here for a very long time, the road wasn’t built yet. Back then, we had a big problem with snakes. You could easily get bitten. Even now, I always stay on my guard. I clean, I avoid lifting the metal sheets.”
A resident of Schoelcher
He knows the danger is still there. Three weeks ago, in the neighborhood, a 45-year-old gardener lost his life after being bitten on the finger.
He had two dots, two hooks, edema and severe pain. These are clinical signs.”
Dabor Résière, head of the toxicology department at the University Hospital of Martinique
The patient did not immediately realize it was a snake. He arrived at the university hospital more than seven hours after being bitten.
"In the afternoon, when he was in a lot of pain, he went to a clinic, which he shouldn't have done. He should have immediately called 15 and come to the university hospital. It's the only place today where they keep the antivenom."
The toxicology department is reeling from the blow, as it has all the necessary resources on-site to save patients. Research continues to progress. Currently, the team is developing an antivenom specific to Martinique.
"For now, we are in phase 2 out of 4. We need to continue doing research."
Finding solutions is urgent, as the number of accidents is skyrocketing in Martinique. Last year, there were 42, twice as many as five years ago. In this context, the service is also calling on local councils and health authorities to relaunch prevention campaigns.
By Inès Tresident-Ranguin
https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/martin...nir-en-cas-de-morsure-de-serpent-1673007.html
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After 20 years without a death, the alert about snake bites has been reignited.
Anaïs Mustière a.mustiere@agmedias.fr
Friday, February 20, 2026
A gardener died from a fer-de-lance bite while maintaining the grounds of a house in the Terreville district of Schœlcher. This is the first death linked to this tropical viper, endemic to Martinique, in 20 years.
Such a tragedy hadn't occurred on the island for 20 years. It all started on an ordinary Saturday at work for this 45-year-old gardener. Employed by a private individual to maintain their green spaces in the Terreville neighborhood of Schœlcher, this man, accompanied by his colleagues, was weeding and clearing tall grass as usual. He then felt a sharp pain in his right hand. Being from Martinique and accustomed to working in wetlands or wild areas, he immediately thought he had been bitten by a centipede, commonly known locally as "the thousand-legged beast." A centipede bite causes intense pain, sometimes even fever, and can lead to fainting. The gardener nevertheless continued his work before moving on to another.
ChatGPT as a first reflex
At the end of the day, the pain was still present and persistent. This landscaping specialist then decided to consult the artificial intelligence ChatGPT for advice on what to do. The tool indicated that simply applying ice would reduce the swelling from the bite, without advising him to go to the emergency room immediately. "Normally, the patient feels pain, senses that something is wrong. Swelling develops, and the two fangs become visible, a sign of a snake bite," notes Dr. Dabor Resiere, an intensive care physician and toxicologist at the University Hospital of Martinique (CHUM). However, in this gardener's case, the symptoms were more diffuse, less clear-cut. Even worse, the garden maintenance professional didn't see what had stung or bitten him, which is the case in 90% of bites, particularly those from the trigonocéphale, the tropical viper endemic to Martinique. It is therefore impossible to know where it comes from...
https://www.martinique.franceantill...e-autour-des-morsures-de-serpents-1069246.php
Trigonocéphale, Fer de lance de la Martinique
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothrops_lanceolatus
----------------------------------------------------
Translation Google
Martinique
Following the death of a man, the University Hospital of Martinique reminds the public of the procedure to follow in case of a snake bite.
A 45-year-old gardener died after being bitten by a snake in Schœlcher. This is the first such death in 20 years. Snake bites are on the rise; two other people were taken to the university hospital on Thursday, February 19. Watch the report with footage by Thierry Sokkan.
By Inès Tresident-Ranguin
Published on February 22, 2026 at 03:00
In the hills above Terreville, the fer-de-lance can appear at any moment. This resident is well aware of this. He never walks through his garden without his boots and gloves.
“I’ve been here for a very long time, the road wasn’t built yet. Back then, we had a big problem with snakes. You could easily get bitten. Even now, I always stay on my guard. I clean, I avoid lifting the metal sheets.”
A resident of Schoelcher
He knows the danger is still there. Three weeks ago, in the neighborhood, a 45-year-old gardener lost his life after being bitten on the finger.
He had two dots, two hooks, edema and severe pain. These are clinical signs.”
Dabor Résière, head of the toxicology department at the University Hospital of Martinique
The patient did not immediately realize it was a snake. He arrived at the university hospital more than seven hours after being bitten.
"In the afternoon, when he was in a lot of pain, he went to a clinic, which he shouldn't have done. He should have immediately called 15 and come to the university hospital. It's the only place today where they keep the antivenom."
The toxicology department is reeling from the blow, as it has all the necessary resources on-site to save patients. Research continues to progress. Currently, the team is developing an antivenom specific to Martinique.
"For now, we are in phase 2 out of 4. We need to continue doing research."
Finding solutions is urgent, as the number of accidents is skyrocketing in Martinique. Last year, there were 42, twice as many as five years ago. In this context, the service is also calling on local councils and health authorities to relaunch prevention campaigns.
By Inès Tresident-Ranguin
https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/martin...nir-en-cas-de-morsure-de-serpent-1673007.html
----------------------------------------------------
After 20 years without a death, the alert about snake bites has been reignited.
Anaïs Mustière a.mustiere@agmedias.fr
Friday, February 20, 2026
A gardener died from a fer-de-lance bite while maintaining the grounds of a house in the Terreville district of Schœlcher. This is the first death linked to this tropical viper, endemic to Martinique, in 20 years.
Such a tragedy hadn't occurred on the island for 20 years. It all started on an ordinary Saturday at work for this 45-year-old gardener. Employed by a private individual to maintain their green spaces in the Terreville neighborhood of Schœlcher, this man, accompanied by his colleagues, was weeding and clearing tall grass as usual. He then felt a sharp pain in his right hand. Being from Martinique and accustomed to working in wetlands or wild areas, he immediately thought he had been bitten by a centipede, commonly known locally as "the thousand-legged beast." A centipede bite causes intense pain, sometimes even fever, and can lead to fainting. The gardener nevertheless continued his work before moving on to another.
ChatGPT as a first reflex
At the end of the day, the pain was still present and persistent. This landscaping specialist then decided to consult the artificial intelligence ChatGPT for advice on what to do. The tool indicated that simply applying ice would reduce the swelling from the bite, without advising him to go to the emergency room immediately. "Normally, the patient feels pain, senses that something is wrong. Swelling develops, and the two fangs become visible, a sign of a snake bite," notes Dr. Dabor Resiere, an intensive care physician and toxicologist at the University Hospital of Martinique (CHUM). However, in this gardener's case, the symptoms were more diffuse, less clear-cut. Even worse, the garden maintenance professional didn't see what had stung or bitten him, which is the case in 90% of bites, particularly those from the trigonocéphale, the tropical viper endemic to Martinique. It is therefore impossible to know where it comes from...
https://www.martinique.franceantill...e-autour-des-morsures-de-serpents-1069246.php