ARACHATTACK: Wisconsin school forced to close after student and teacher bitten by spiders
MANITOWOC COUNTY, WISCONSIN: A Wisconsin classroom is plagued by dozens of spiders forcing the school to close temporarily last week. Classes were back in session at the Wilson Middle School in Manitowoc, roughly 40 miles south of Green Bay, but after a student and a teacher were reportedly bit by yellow sac spiders causing a bad reaction to its symptoms, the classes were immediately shut down on Friday, December 9.
Speaking of its first horrifying incident on Thursday, administrators say a student sitting in a classroom brushed a spider off of her arm. While they were no symptoms of a spider bite, however, her arm became itchy and swollen over time. The school nurse provided medical attention and the student's parents were swiftly notified, read a statement, according to FOX 31.
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The statement also added a teacher that was recently bit shared the same symptoms. The student needed medical attention for swelling, itching, and pain. The horrified school called exterminators into eradicating the spiders and were shocked to find more than 30 spiders in several classrooms. “This is the first time I’ve ever dealt with a spider issue,” James Feil, Manitowoc Superintendent, told Nexstar’s WFRV, reported the source. The school is not sure how the building has become spider infested.
In a statement, Principal Cory Erlandson from the Wilson Middle School said the institution wasn’t aware of any other students or staff being bitten but encouraged parents and guardians to “be on the lookout for symptoms."
Cheiracanthium also known as Yellow sac spiders are believed to be responsible for the majority of reported spider bites, Utah State University explains. Though these spider bites are not lethal, they can be very painful and typically cause burning, itching, or swelling. According to university research, nausea, fever, discomfort, stomach cramps, or skin necrosis can also occur but are rare.
Mayo Clinic recommends seeking medical care following any spider bite if you were bitten by a dangerous spider, like a recluse or widow spider - aren’t sure whether the spider that bit you is dangerous, you experience severe pain, abdominal cramps, or a growing wound near the bite; redness or red streaks are spreading in the bite area, or you’re struggling to breathe or swallow, reported the source.