A UK man on cruise ends up with spider eggs in his toe.
One man named Colin Blake was celebrating his 35th wedding anniversary in France, and all of a sudden he realised his toes were turning purple. Worried, Mr. Blake went to see the ship’s doctor, who discovered a Peruvian wolf spider had bitten him and laid eggs in his toe.
“My wife thought it may be because I had new sandals and they were rubbing on my big toe and that was causing it to be red.” He told BBC
It is believed these spiders are “hitchhikers.” They arrive in the region on cargo ships and establish themselves in new habitats once they find suitable conditions, and they quickly adapt and reproduce.
Anyway, after four weeks, Colin’s foot kept on swelling, and the pain got unbearable. He was given antibiotics to help with the toxins; they recorded a “foreign body” in his toe, and it was cut out. Once the swelling subsided, the spider’s fang marks could be seen, as well as the toxin making its way through his foot.
Mr. Blake is expected to make a complete recovery from his illness. I hope to have him on his ‘toes’ soon.