Australian hospital closes after poisonous spider invasion: report

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

SYDNEY (AFP) — An invasion of venomous spiders has forced an Australian hospital to evacuate patients and temporarily close its doors, reports said Wednesday.

Authorities decided the infestation of redback spiders at Baralaba Hospital in Queensland state's Banana Shire was too dangerous for patients, Australian Associated Press reported.

It said repeated attempts to oust the arachnids had failed, so patients and staff would be moved to another facility to allow a thorough fumigation of the 10-bed hospital.

The black spiders with a red stripe, close relatives of the black widow, are about 2-4 centimetres (0.8-1.6 inches) long and common across Australia.

Their bites can cause severe pain, muscle spasms and death, although no fatalities have been...