The heavy rainfall in the nation's capital for the past few weeks has chased snakes from their hiding places.

Inhabitants of some neighbourhoods in Yaounde have their hearts in their hands. The heavy rainfall in the nation's capital for the past few weeks has kind of chased snakes from their hiding places. The number of snake bite cases at home and nearby bushes keeps on increasing. Last Sunday, a 30-year-old lady whose names were got as Fatou was bitten by a snake in her family home at Endom, a locality near Yaounde at 6:00 p.m. Fatou was immediately rushed to the emergency ward of the Yaounde Central Hospital, where she was administered treatment. Later the same night another victim of snake bite, Marie Dorothée Messomo, 13, was brought to the emergency ward of the Yaounde Central Hospital. She was bitten by a snake late in the night at home in Mbankolo. Fortunately for the two victims, the hospital staff successfully extracted the venom from their heels.

The story is same with Martine E.40. She fell in to the same trap last week behind her residence in Biyem-Assi. She like the others was rushed to hospital where she was treated. Reports say a snake charmer (names unknown) who lives in in Ekounou was also bitten by one of his snakes during an incantation exercise. According to the report, the snake bit his finger and he took no notice of it. He knew he was in control of the snakes and could not be bitten. When he started feeling weak he then realised the danger he was in and was rushed to hospital. Sources at the emergency ward of the Yaounde Central Hospital say the cases of snake bite are frequent of late. According to the source, the hospital officials have succeeded in treating all the cases that were brought to them. "Whenever there is a case of snake bite we immediately extract the venom to save the person's life," the source said.

Apart from snake bites, more and more people keep coming into contact with snakes in homes and surroundings. Marie M. who lives in the Emana neighbourhood said, she almost stepped on a serpent in her home last Tuesday at about 8:00 p.m. She was leaving her kitchen with food to serve her daughter when she suddenly saw the snake. The snake was immediately killed by the occupants of the house. Justine Bodo, 33, for her part, saw a snake in her bedroom and shouted for help. Neighbours came to her rescue and killed the snake. Some in habitants of the Emana neighbourhood say the increasing number of snakes in the area is due to bushes around while others believe its due to the heavy rains.