Nasser Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi citizen in his 40’s, was recently transferred to a local hospital after being bitten by a black widow spider only to find that the hospital did not have the antidote needed to counteract the venom.
Al-Ghamdi was transferred to Baljurashi General Hospital but was later transferred to King Fahd Hospital in Baha when staff said they did not have the antidote.
One of Al-Ghamdi brothers said Nasser suffered severe cramps.
Ahmed Mueed Al-Zahrani, head of the Public Relations, Media & Health Education Department and official spokesman at the Al-Baha Health Department, said that many people have suffered such bites for more than a year now.
“The spider was once caught. Communication is ongoing with the National Guard Hospital and Aramco Hospital, but antidotes for this kind of spider are not available,” added Al-Zahrani.
Hospitals lack antidote for spider venom
Hospitals lack antidote for spider venom
