Posted on 11/17/2006 1:05:13 AM PST by Mrs Ivan
A man spent three days in hospital after being bitten by a venomous spider now spreading across the country because of global warming.
The false widow spider, a relative of the black widow, bit Jason Fricker, 34, three times on the chest and stomach after it fell down the front of his shirt a week ago. By Sunday, after treatment as an outpatient the previous day, Mr Fricker, a father of two from Dorchester, was admitted as an emergency by doctors who believed the venom was attacking his nervous system, causing a heart attack.
The creature that caused such damage, Steatoda nobilis, is the only species of spider in Britain capable of biting humans. Although it has been known in Britain since arriving in Torquay in bananas from the Canary Islands in the 1870s, its numbers and range are now growing because of the milder climates.
While it is not nearly as venomous as the black widow, in recent years it has spread from the West Country across southern England as far as Sussex and is now migrating north through Surrey.
Stuart Hine, the manager of insect services at the Natural History Museum, said: "It is moving further northwards and is thought to be in London now. That's to do with the general warming up of winter temperatures because they are able to survive the winter and breed.
"All spiders are venomous but the difference with these false widow spiders is that their fangs can pierce the skin. Global warming means that spiders which originate from southern Europe and North Africa and Asia are now more likely to be able to survive in Britain."
Mr Fricker, who runs a fishery and tackle shop, discovered he had been bitten as he set out his angling goods on his stall at the market.
"I was carrying the goods in a cardboard box when I think the spider must have come out of the corner of the box and went down my front," he said yesterday. "Five minutes later, I felt this sort of burning sensation on my chest like a wasp sting.
"I shook my jumper and the spider fell down on to my stomach. Then it must have bitten me again and I saw this spider fall to the floor and scuttle off into the centre of Salisbury."
Mr Fricker thought nothing of it until the next day when he started to feel unwell. His wife Katie, 30, spotted the bites. "When the doctor saw the puncture wounds he got all excited and said: 'You are the first person in my career I have seen who has been bitten by a spider. There is no doubt about this'."
After identifying the spider as a false widow on a hospital computer, he was sent home with anti-histamine tablets. But the next day, his condition deteriorated. "I thought I was having a heart attack. The pain in my chest was excruciating," he said. "I seriously thought I was going to die, it was that bad."
Mr Fricker was admitted to Dorchester County Hospital where doctors believed he might be having a heart seizure caused by an extreme reaction to the bite.
"I was wired up on drips and was given heart drugs. I spent three days in hospital for being bitten by something I hadn't even heard of," he said.
Mr Fricker, who has a son Ryan, nine, and daughter Charlotte, two, was released from hospital on Tuesday and is convalescing at home.
Doctors say that, in the vast majority of cases, the spider's bite should be no more painful, and the medical consequences no more serious, than a wasp sting.
It's like this quote from your old FR "globalheater" login:
The draw back on socialism is not that it's not working economically but that you have to cut the individual freedom.
You really do think socialism 'works', just like you really do think mankind's puny footprint has a real effect against HUGE NATURAL/NORMAL climate cycles that occur every 20/50/100/250/1000 years. From birth, you've been fed this nonsense, are human, and are not immune from the constant drubbing.
It was first recorded in Britain near Torquay in 1879.
Looks like the little invader hopped the channel pre-global warming.
My little girl asked her bigger brother to chase away a nasty spider for her. He reluctantly did so, after first bemoaning the fact that he is hurting one of "earth's creatures".
I rolled my eyes. Someone at school is brainwashing his nine year old brain. PEOPLE have dominion over creatures and it has always been that way. It is time for more deprogramming in my home.
My late first wife was bitten in the left foot, years ago- short version? Her heel "melted" off.
The only people I have seen more intensely sick, died.
I'll get right on it. Sea level there rose an inch or two over the last 25 years so I will be sure to book my trip within the next 50 since I'll be 93 years old by then anyway.
It's not impossible. Just present objective scientific evidence and I'll be willing to accept such.
So far, what I have seen has been far from objective, and is the worst kind of science - that which starts with a conclusion and then either cherry-picks or maninuplates the evidence to prove such. Or relies upon computer modelling running forward for decades when we can't even model accurately five days out at this point.
It's not impossible. Just present objective scientific evidence and I'll be willing to accept such.
Good. Certainly I'm not the lawyer of climate science guys.
I guess they got a hard time modelling climate but at least they find new ways of modelling complex systems and if they achieve to improve the weather forecast that would be saving millions in agricultural and military matters.
But before evidence there comes indicators. A law suit against CO2 would set the suspect freeb- no doubt.
Question is - given the risks at stake don't we need a quantanamo for CH4 and CO2. Because they sure look guilty.
You shouldn't extrapolate... things may rise faster and you'd be surprised once your 75 and it's to late.
Does no one else remember the 'precautionary principle'? Apply it when you will then you must apply it when you won't.
Greenies are watermelons, sick green on the outside and fellow traveler pink on the inside.
On the other hand, the sun may leave this particular phase of doing whatever it's doing, and the water levels may recede ....
"Everyone check your bananas!"
I assure you my banana has never bitten anyone!
Renowned Scientist Defects From Belief in Global Warming – Caps Year of Vindication for Skeptics
OMG!
I guess I am just lucky...I have a bright pink scar on the top of my foot, that's all.
This is how much of a wimp I am - even that cute little spider is creepy.
I poured some sugar from a 5 lb bag and saw HUGE HAIRY SPIDER PARTS. I mean huge.
Carolyn
You're not alone. I can't finish my oatmeal after this thread.
I nearly didn't post the article just in case there were too many pictures!
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