Today, January 30th, is World Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Day. As such, I visited Dorothy Okemo, a leader and activist who is working to improve snakebite management in Kenya. In this episode of Venomcast, we discuss NTDs, healthcare access, and the continued neglect of snakebite in Kenya. Despite the gloomy outlook, however, grassroots organizations such as the Access to Medicines Platform based in Nairobi are working to provide policy solutions to this underrecognized health crisis.

In Kenya, snakebites pose a serious threat to rural communities, who are exposed to snakebites while farming, ranching, mining or even sleeping in rustic homes that allow snakes to enter through holes. There are many myths surrounding snakebite treatment; some people use "black stones," others use herbs, and most use tourniquets. I met with Mrs. Dorothy Okemo, Executive officer and Program Manager at the Access to Medicines Platform in Kenya to learn more about the situation in communities.

While on vacation in Costa Rica in 2020, my mom had an unfortunate encounter with a Fer-de-Lance, or Bothrops asper. Four years later, she recounts her story and arduous healing process, from the initial accident to potentially lethal infections.

In this episode, I introduce myself and talk about why I began researching snakebites (hint: my momma!). I talk about my field experience, what the next few episodes will look like, and what the Venomcast has in store!

Un anticuerpo monoclonal es un anticuerpo producido por un solo clon. Hablamos con el Dr. Alejandro Olvera de la UNAM para aprender mas sobre esta tecnología y sus posibilidades en el mundo de antivenenos.

Hablamos con el Dr. Alejandro Olvera de la UNAM para aprender mas sobre la tecnología de proteínas recombinantes, y como se usa esta tecnología para producir mejores antivenenos.

En este episodio nos adentramos un poco más a detalle en los pasos de producir un antiveneno. El Dr. Alagon es una figura famosa en el mundo de antivenenos. Participo en el desarroyo de alacramyn, uno de los primeros antivenenos contra picaduras de alacranes en el mundo, y el unico aprobado por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos (FDA).

¿Cómo se mide la potencia de un veneno, y de un antiveneno? ¿Cómo se asegura que el antiveneno no tendrá impurezas? Hablamos con el Dr. Alejandro Alagón Cano sobre la variabilidad de intensidad del envenenamiento de mordeduras de serpientes, las etapas de purificación del plasma de los caballos y el proceso de control de calidad para los antivenenos.