By Vanessa Dabovich
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/krwg/local-krwg-981776.mp3
Las Cruces, NM – To toxicologists the American southwest is known as the venom belt - home to thousands of venomous animals, some of which can be extremely dangerous to humans. Scorpion stings alone affect thousands of people each year, but only about 250 cases are severe. Most of those are children, who without treatment can die. Nearly a decade ago, the United States ran out of its supply of scorpion anti-venom. In the first of two reports Fronteras Desk reporter Monica Ortiz Uribe explains how a Mexican drug company could come to the rescue.
On today's program we welcome back Fronteras reporter Monica Ortiz Uribe. She was recently on the show to talk about her experiences as a reporter for the Fronteras Project, but she is back today to talk in depth about her reports on the introduction of new scorpion antivenom in the U.S .