Warrell D A, Arnett C
Acta Trop. 1976;33(4):307-41.
The incidence of Echis carinatus (saw-scaled or carpet viper) bite and its mortality have been investigated in the Nigerian savanna region. A geographical area was defined in which the snake was particularly abundant and bites were frequent. Perennial and seasonal fluctuations in incidence and mortality, the circumstances in which bites occurred and the types of people bitten were studied at Bambur, Zaria, Kaltungo and Gombe hospitals. Peak incidence coincided with the increase in farming during the rains whereas percentage mortality seemed to be greatest during the cold dry season. The majority of the patients were young males bitten on the foot while walking or farming. A review of the world literature indicated that E. carinatus was the principal cause of snake bite morbidity wherever data were available throughout its wide geographical range. Official statistics have seriously underestimated this important rural health problem.
在尼日利亚热带稀树草原地区，对锯鳞蝰蛇咬伤的发生率及其死亡率进行了调查。划定了一个该蛇特别多且咬伤频繁的地理区域。在扎里亚的班布尔、卡尔通戈和贡贝医院，研究了发病率和死亡率的常年及季节性波动、咬伤发生的情况以及被咬人群的类型。发病率高峰与雨季务农活动增加相吻合，而死亡率似乎在寒冷干燥季节最高。大多数患者是年轻男性，在行走或务农时脚部被咬伤。对世界文献的综述表明，在有数据的其广泛地理分布范围内，锯鳞蝰蛇是蛇咬伤发病的主要原因。官方统计数据严重低估了这个重要的农村健康问题。
