The bite of a cobra can be fatal if not treated quickly, but if venom is sprayed on the face, it can still cause pain, swelling, and skin damage.
Cobras generally try to escape rather than attack humans. However, if threatened or provoked, they will defend themselves. Some species of spitting cobras are found all over the world. One such species is the Mozambique spitting cobra, a native snake in Africa. This is one of the most dangerous snake species in Mozambique. They are distributed across various habitats throughout South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, according to Newsweek.
The Mozambique spitting cobra has venom containing cytotoxins. (Image: Digital Vision)
“Like other spitting snake species, the Mozambique spitting cobra can bite humans.” In fact, in South Africa, along with puff adders and boomslangs, they are responsible for a significant number of snakebite cases in the country each year. However, if threatened, they will first spit venom. According to Nick Evans, a snake rescue expert in the Greater Durban area of South Africa, pets like dogs often get sprayed with venom due to accidentally provoking the snake.
“Cobras do not spit venom as a means of attack, but purely for self-defense. Most of the time, this allows them to escape from dogs without getting hurt,” Evans said.
Getting sprayed with venom is less severe than being bitten as it rarely threatens life. However, those who are sprayed still experience painful sensations. “I’ve heard of some people getting rashes or itching if snake venom gets on their skin. I once got sprayed in the mouth and it tasted extremely bitter. Getting venom in the eyes is also a problem. It feels like having a lot of sand in your eyes. It’s terrible. I’ve been sprayed a few times while working. I never want to experience that again,” Evans shared.
When the Mozambique spitting cobra feels threatened, it aims for a person’s eyes to make it easier to escape. If not washed out, the venom can cause permanent damage. It is crucial to wash the eyes thoroughly and immediately. Evans noted that if bitten, the situation would be much worse. The venom contains cytotoxins that can cause damage and even lead to death.
Graham Alexander, a professor of herpetology at the University of Witwatersrand, stated that he has been sprayed by cobras multiple times throughout his career. “If you get sprayed on the arm, where the skin is very thin and sensitive, the venom can cause swelling for a while. If the venom hits the eyes, the pain will be immediate, and you may feel unwell for several days, depending on the amount of venom. However, you will not die or go blind,” Alexander said.
