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Certain islands of the Ryukyu group, between Japan and Taiwan in the western Pacific, have the highest incidence of snakebite in the world. On average, 0.2% of the population - 1 in every 500 people - is bitten by a snake every year. Every person in the area has at least a 1 in 7 chance of being bitten by a snake at one time or another during their lives. The snake most responsible for this is the Okinawa habu (Trimeresurus flavoriridis); fortunately, most of its victims recover. |