High incidence of bites and stings by snakes and other animals among rubber tappers and amazonian indians of the Juruá Valley, Acre State, Brazil

Among forest-dwelling Amazonian Indians and rubber tappers (seringueiros) of the Juruá valley in Acre State, north-western Brazil, snakebite is an important cause of morbidity and death. Overall, 13% of a surveyed population had been bitten during their lifetime. Seventeen per cent of Katukina Indians, but only 8% of Ashaninkas, had been bitten by snakes reflecting, perhaps, different levels of traditional knowledge of the forest and its dangers. Most bites occurred in the jungle or on jungle trails (56%), while people were working (41%) or walking (26%), and were inflicted on the feet (54%). Ninety per cent of bite victims received treatment, usually traditional (93%); the majority (80%) recovered fully. Mortality was estimated at about 400 deaths per 100,000 population per lifetime. Bites and stings from other venomous forest and river animals, especially the freshwater sting ray ( Potamotrygon sp.), were also extremely common. One death from an ant bite was recorded.