San Diego zoo employee bitten by venomous snake with no antivenom

A San Diego Zoo employee was bitten by a venomous snake Monday, NBC News reported.

The incident occurred when the zoo worker was caring for an African bush viper in a non-public area, according to a NBC7 report.

The zoo worker was rushed to a hospital for evaluation and medical care. The name of the worker has not been released yet. 

A zoo official told NBC7 in a statement that “incidents like this are very rare, and the snake was contained at all times with no risk of an escape.”

African bush vipers are small reptiles known for their dorsal scales that give them a dragon-like appearance. There is no antivenom for the African bush viper, and bites can cause fevers or internal bleeding, which can be fatal. 

 As of Tuesday, the current condition of the worker is unknown.