Ohio, October 22: In Ohio's Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in the US, a female employee found herself in the hospital on Thursday, October 19, after being bitten by a highly venomous eastern diamondback rattlesnake. The incident occurred around 4 pm within a restricted "behind-the-scenes area," as reported by the zoo's communications director, Michelle Curley. Fortunately, no visitors were at risk during this unsettling event.

According to multiple reports, the employee, who hails from the reptile department, was promptly transported to the hospital, where her condition stabilised. Curley further informed that the bite was partial, and there was no need for antivenom treatment, suggesting a positive prognosis for the injured staff member. "No guests were ever at risk," Curley reaffirmed. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake globally and holds the title of North America's most venomous serpent. Snake Attack Video: Zookeeper Jay Brewer Narrowly Escapes Getting Bitten by Giant Python, Shares Terrifying Clip on Instagram.

Its venom, a hemotoxin, is known to attack red blood cells and cause severe tissue damage, potentially proving lethal to humans. This incident echoes a similar episode that occurred just a month ago in Florida, where an Amazon delivery driver was attacked by an eastern diamondback rattlesnake while on duty. The courier, who survived the ordeal, had initially failed to notice the snake's presence. Snake Falls From Sky on Texas Woman, Gets Badly Attacked by Both Snake and Hawk That Dropped It Onto Her (Watch Video).

While fatalities from rattlesnake bites are rare due to the availability of antivenom, they are not unheard of. In 2022, an 80-year-old snake researcher lost his life after a rattlesnake bite, and a 6-year-old boy died days after being bitten during a family bike ride in Colorado Springs. It is crucial for those bitten by an eastern diamondback to seek immediate medical attention, as per the recommendations of Florida's Poison Control Centers, without resorting to tourniquets or ice application.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 22, 2023 11:33 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).