No stock of snake, scorpion, spider antivenoms

While antivenom stock has plummeted to empty now, including scorpion and spider antivenom, hope is in sight with the completion of renovations at the South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) facility.

- Kayla Shaw

The Witness

However, with antivenom production set to resume, due to the labour-intensive process of extracting the antivenom, it will take up a minimum of nine months before stock is available again.

SAVP is the only antivenom producer in South Africa and supplies the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).

The antivenom crisis started last year with the announcement of a shortage in snake antivenom following the NHLS planning upgrades for the SAVP facility, with the promise that levels of antivenom would be enough.