South African Snakebite Symposium 2025

My contribution to the symposium will be a 30 minute presentation entitled Scorpions and Scorpion Stings In Southern Africa from 12:05 to 12:35 on the 22nd November.

The presentation content includes the following:

• Overview of scorpions in Southern Africa.
• Venom and venomosity. 
• High risk species.
• High risk areas.
• Classification of symptoms. 
• Symptoms (localised and systemic).
• Factors influencing symptoms severity.
• Red flags.
• What the statistics tell us.
• Antivenom, a critical resource and challenge. 
• Statistics.
• The challenge and the way forward.
• Book giveaway.

I'll also be presenting a poster entitled: Reducing the burden of scorpion stings in Southern Africa: a novel approach. 

This book represents a giant leap forward in our understanding of scorpions and scorpion stings in southern Africa. It offers a new and innovative first response framework that is based upon the latest science, is easy to understand and put into practice. This book is an upgrade on our current understanding of scorpions and scorpions stings as it offers a refreshingly new perspective on a familiar subject that is in desperate need of updating.

This event consists of a 45 minute presentation followed by a 20 minute question and answer session and report back from the South African Snakebite Symposium. The presentation is based upon the contents of Jonathan Leeming's book, Essential Scorpion Sting First Response. It offers a new and innovative science-based approach to scorpion stings that is easy to understand and put into practice.