CASTRIES, St Lucia — Snake bite cases across St Lucia have pushed the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition to designate the Owen King EU Hospital and the St. Jude Hospital as the island’s official treatment centers for venomous bites, as authorities respond to growing alarm over snake sightings in communities where the reptiles have rarely been seen before.
In a statement issued this week, the Ministry said it is collecting and reviewing data to determine the true scale and spread of snake bite cases nationwide, after residents in several parishes reported a rise in encounters with the island’s only venomous snake, the Saint Lucia fer-de-lance.
The advisory follows months of mounting concern over the snake. The Government rolled out a five-pillar national response plan in March covering education, protective equipment, rapid response, research and medical care, after officials said viral videos of residents attempting to kill snakes, including one incident involving a firearm, had heightened public anxiety. Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir has linked the wider spread of sightings to snakes being displaced from abandoned farms and areas affected by quarry blasting, along with declining pesticide use on lands no longer in full banana production.
Hospitals Outline Protocol For Snake Bite Cases
The Ministry is urging anyone bitten to seek immediate medical attention at the Owen King EU Hospital or the St. Jude Hospital rather than attempting first aid at home. Officials warned against trying to capture or kill the snake, applying a tourniquet such as a tight bandage, belt or inflatable cuff, cutting the wound, or attempting to suck out venom, saying each of those actions can cause further harm.
Antivenom is administered exclusively in a hospital setting, where patients can be closely monitored by trained healthcare professionals equipped to manage complications, including surgical intervention and admission if required. Dr. Delphina Vernor, Senior Medical Officer for Urgent Care and Health Disaster Management, said the designated hospitals are equipped to provide the close monitoring antivenom treatment requires.
Fatal Thomazo Bite Preceded Wider Alarm
The advisory follows a fatal fer-de-lance attack that killed Valence Alfred in Thomazo, Dennery, in late January. Alfred died the day after he was bitten, despite receiving emergency care, including antivenom, at the Owen King EU Hospital. His death intensified calls in the community for clearer prevention guidance and faster emergency response.
In May, a part-time security guard was bitten while on duty in Bois d’Orange, a community not traditionally associated with fer-de-lance habitat. He was treated at Owen King EU Hospital and later discharged. Forestry officials said the snake was likely carried north in soil or vehicle compartments during construction work, illustrating how the species is turning up in areas residents do not expect. Since February 2025, seven snakebite victims have been treated under St Lucia’s Universal Health Coverage programme, according to SLUHC Director Alisha Eugene-Ford.
Prevention And Mental Health Support Expand
To limit encounters, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development is advising residents to clear overgrown vegetation and debris from yards, wear protective footwear in bushy or grassy areas, and exercise caution while working outdoors.
The Saint Lucia fer-de-lance is endemic to the island and found nowhere else in the world. Conservation groups, including Fauna and Flora International, are working alongside the Ministry of Health and the Forestry Department to expand access to antivenom and protective equipment while supporting a stable population of the species.
The Ministry of Health said it recognizes the emotional toll on families affected by recent bites and on residents of snake prone communities, and pointed to mental health support available at Community Wellness Centres for anyone who needs it.
Officials said improvements to emergency medical transport, healthcare worker training and overall service delivery are underway as part of a broader effort to strengthen the island’s response to snake bite cases.
