vipersgarden.at

Your site on European and Mediterranean Amphibians and Reptiles

Death from snakebite (native species only) in Europe.
(data from 21 out of 36 countries, = 58%).

If you hear on new cases or know different data, please mail them to me, to keep this table up to date.

In literature, up to 100 fatal cases from snakebite are given per year for Europe.
The WHO report 1998 gives 30 per year for Europe.
A short note in "New Scientist" from December, 2nd, 1995, says 95 people died from 77.000 bites in Europe during the last 125 years (up to 1995?).

Here are the up to date data from our continent for each country, mailed to me by local people (thousends thanks to them!).

Country/Land: Information by: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Albania                  
Austria diverse none known since at least 30 years  
Belarus                  
Belgium Pedro Janssen
J. Speybroeck
none in recent times  
BiH                  
Bulgaria B. Naumov no data  
Croatia B. Horvatic 2 by V. ammodytes
before 2004i)
1 by V. ammodytesa) 1 by V. ammodytesb)          
Czech Rep. G. Gadjukin 1 by Vipera berus on May, 11th, 2000e)
1 by V. latastei on February 24th, 2003f)
 
Denmark                  
Estonia P. Poldsam No deaths known since at least 15 to 20 years  
Finland M. Niskanen none since 1982  
France                  
Germany D. Bohle 2004: 81 years old woman on Rügen island (Baltic Sea)  
Great Britain J. Foster, W. Wüster none since 1975  
Greece M. Wilson, D. Buttle 1 by M. xanthina on Lesvosh) 1 by V. ammodytes on Corfuc)            
Hungary L. Krecsak 2 by Vipera berus since 1960  
Italy H. Billing   1 by V. aspis on June 25th            
Latvia                  
Lithuania                  
Macedonia S. Boguljub       1 by V. ammodytes        
Moldova                  
Montenegro R. Ajtic none as long as a part of Serbia        
Netherlands P. Janssen none since 1946        
Norway P. Poldssam none since about 15 years ago        
Poland                  
Portugal J. Brito                
Romania L. Krecsak, V. Cioflec 4 by V. ammodytes, but none in the last 7 years        
Russia (europ.)                  
Serbia R.Ajtic                
Slovenia V. Cafuta none since 1945, maybe longerd)        
Slovakia                  
Spain                  
Sweden                  
Switzerland H. Schmocker none since 1961        
Turkey (europ.) N. Igcy none known for european part        
Ukraine                  
Total  
1
2
1
         

a) 69 years old woman,
b) 1,5 month old boy, bitten in face,
c) seventyish years old woman on Corfu
d) Dr. Tome mentioned that she heard of a case of soldier that was bitten in the neck by venomous snake and died, but she doesn't know if it is true or just "a tale for scaring people,
e) near Litvinov in Krizatky village. Adult Vipera berus bit about 50 years old man to his hand. He died after 14 days in hospital of Most. Cause was strong alergic reaction.,
f) Mr. Petr Vozenilek. He died in February 24. 2003 after he was bitten by adult female Vipera latastei from his breeding (no native species in Czech, but an European one).
g) 15 yeasrs old boy in Mandamados village, Lesvos island.
h) boy on Mount Lepitimnos, Lesvos island.
i) see: Luksic, Bradaric & Prgomet, 2006