Virginia Man Bitten by Deadly Snake He Was Keeping As Pet

A Virginia man fought for survival after he was bitten by a deadly African Pit Viper he was keeping as a pet.

The man was rushed to a Richmond hospital where staff raced to treat him with antivenom, the Associated Press reported.

The African Pit Viper, also known as the Gaboon viper, is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. It is found in the forests of central and western Africa. Despite being incredibly venomous, the snake is usually docile and unaggressive.

Bites from the species are extremely rare, and usually, only happen when they are provoked. It is the largest viper in the world and is known for having large fangs that can reach up to 2 inches.

Staff at VCU Medical Center in Richmond had already treated the man with antivenom supplied by the Smithsonian National zoo but they needed more to save his life, TV station WAVY reported.

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach told AP it supplied 35 bottles of antivenom, which the state police rushed to the hospital.

The unidentified man was bitten on the night of March 26. AP reported he was alive on Sunday evening but his status at the time of writing is unknown.

Newsweek has contacted the Virginia State Police for comment.

The African Pit Viper can control how much venom it injects in a single bite. This means occasionally, its bite could be non-venomous. The amount of venom injected is proportionate to how provoked the snake becomes.

The venom of an African Pit Viper can leave victims immobilized. It can also prevent blood from clotting, which can cause excessive and prolonged bleeding.

Earlier this month a North Carolina man lost several fingers after being bitten by the same species of snake. The man had to be treated with 44 bottles of antivenom over the course of a week, which is double what is used for a standard snake bite. The man from Wilmington was bitten while caring for the snake, WAVY reported.

While bites by the viper are rare, Dr. Jarratt Lark, who treated the North Carolina man, told WAVY that patients "often don't survive."

Fingers are sometimes lost following severe snake bites, but it is rare. It depends on the amount of venom administered in the bite, and how badly it has damaged body tissue.

Experts advise against keeping venomous snakes as pets. They can pose a risk to the owner, as well as others if the snake were to escape.