CPG Revision: Dedicated Coverage Pathways for Taiwan

Dedicated Coverage Paths: The following species cause nearly all snake envenomations in Taiwan: Chinese cobra (Naja atra - cytotoxic), many-banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus -severely neurotoxic), Habu (Protobothrops mucrosquamatus - hemotoxic/cytotoxic), green tree viper (Trimeresurus stejnegeri - hemotoxic/cytotoxic), sharp-nosed viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus - hemotoxic/cytotoxic), and eastern Russell’s viper (Daboia siamensis - hemotoxic/cytotoxic). Photographs of these snakes are included below.

Four different antivenom products are produced in Taiwan, two are polyvalent and two are monovalent. All are effective for their covered species. The polyvalent neuro product (NIPM-NBB) covers kraits and cobras, and the bivalent hemorrhagic product (NIPM-PTBV) covers the Habu and green pit viper. Monovalent products cover the sharp-nosed viper (NIPM-SNV) and Russell’s viper (NIPM-RV).