According to reports, an employee at the San Diego Zoo was admitted to hospital Monday afternoon after being bitten by a venomous snake.
The incident occurred when the wildlife specialist cared for the African viper, scientifically known as Atheris squamigera, in a non-public environment, the zoo said.
The zoo added: “In accordance with our protocols, the staff member was immediately taken to a hospital for evaluation and medical care, and we remain in close contact.”
The staff member is currently in an unknown condition, reports 10 News.
“Although the San Diego Zoo cares for a number of venomous reptiles, incidents like these are very rare, and the snake has been restrained at all times without the risk of escaping,” the zoo added in a statement.
National Geographic says of the snake that originates in parts of West and Central Africa: “Their venom usually dies within a few days.”
The symptoms of a reptile bite include ‘severe kidney damage and blood clotting and bleeding’ and ‘severe inflammation, bleeding and tissue death’.
The snake “can cause fever or internal bleeding, which can be fatal,” a study by the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) reported.
According to the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York, there is no antidote to venom for an African snake.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.