SA Restarts Antivenom Production to Address Shortages and Save Lives

The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) , through its subsidiary South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) , has successfully restarted the production of antivenom at its newly upgraded manufacturing facility. This breakthrough marks a critical turning point for South Africa and the wider region, which have faced serious shortages of snake antivenom in recent years.

A Lifesaving Step Amid Global Shortages

Snakebites, spider bites, and scorpion stings remain a significant public health threat , particularly in rural communities where access to healthcare is limited. According to the African Snakebite Institute , the only effective treatment for severe snakebite envenomation from dangerous species such as the black mamba, puff adder, and cape cobra is antivenom, which helps