A group of 150 professionals in the fields of Medicine and Nursing, from different medical centers across the country, attended a symposium about snakebite envenomings organized by the Clodomiro Picado Institute of the University of Costa Rica.

Ophidic accidents are a problem in the Central American region, where an average of 4,500 cases are recorded every year, and from which 500 or 600 happen in Costa Rica. It is estimated that around the world 2.5 million ophidic accidents happen each year; yet, it is known that there are many cases not being reported because many of the victims don’t even attend health centers to be treated. These accidents are the cause of death of more than 85 thousand people, and they cause permanent physical damages to 250 thousand people.