Invasion of redback spiders closes Australian hospital
By Janelle Miles
The Herald Sun
Copyright 2008 The Herald Sun
QUEENSLAND, Australia — A remote Queensland hospital has been forced to shut while it deals with a redback spider infestation.
There were fears the arachnids could fall from the ceiling on to beds.
So pest controllers have been brought in to fumigate the 10-bed health service at Baralaba, a town of about 290 people an hour's drive from Moura, central Queensland.
Fumigator Bruce Dekker, of CQ Propest Services, said the hospital's ceiling was infested with hundreds of redbacks.
"What we're concerned about is that we may get redbacks dropping through some of the airconditioning ducting or through . . . exhaust fans," he said.
"We're concerned that some of these openings are above the patients' beds."
Two aged-care residents have been taken to Moura Hospital to allow fumigators to treat the hospital today. The process will be repeated in another few weeks.
Queensland Health nursing director for the area, Ellen Palmer, said a general practitioner's surgery would be available for anyone needing medical treatment during the fumigation.
Mrs Palmer said Queensland Health had decided to evacuate the hospital as it was the safest course for both patients and staff.
"I know it's a drastic thing, and yes, it will be disruptive," she said.
"It's not something that we took lightly. Nobody's been bitten, but it's purely because the staff are very vigilant."
Mr Dekker said he had been inundated recently by calls from central Queenslanders wanting to rid their properties of the redback spiders.
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