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Rare Cobra Bites Teen; Anti-Venin Unavailable

POSTED: Thursday, October 28, 2004
UPDATED: 10:52 am EST November 1, 2004

A Homestead teenager was hospitalized after a being bitten Thursday by a cobra that is so rare that no anti-venin is available.

An entire room in this house is dedicated to reptiles.
"I've called five of the top experts worldwide and even though the venom unit has dealt with over 750 snakebites, this is the first one possibly in existence in this country," said Miami-Dade firefighter Al Cruz, who runs the county's venom unit.

Investigators say the rare coral cobra bit the teen as she slept in her Homestead home. The 14-year-old's stepfather, Bill Stifler, is an employee of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and also works professionally showing snakes. An entire room in their house is dedicated to reptiles. At this point, it's not known how the snake got out of the room to bite the sleeping teen.

Would You Keep A Poisonous Animal In Your Home?

The teen's prognosis not certain. Doctors at Miami Children's Hospital are monitoring her.

"You're dealing with a situation that time will tell what the resolution will be," Cruz said.

Coral cobras typically live in the southwestern regions of Africa. Very little is known about its venom, but the snake's bite is not thought to be as toxic as other cobras.

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