Canadian backpacker, 22, contracts a flesh-eating disease after being bitten by a spider while working as a sheep shearer in country Australia
- A Canadian backpacker was working on a farm in the Australian outback
- Alyssa Cassidy, 22, noticed a lump on her leg after being in a shearing shed
- It later developed into a nasty infection and became ‘flesh eating’ within days
- She shared a warning to other backpackers on Facebook to ‘be aware’ of spiders
A Canadian backpacker travelling around Australia contracted a gruesome flesh-eating virus after she was bitten by a spider.
Alyssa Cassidy, 22, from Ontario, Canada was enjoying the trip of a lifetime when she noticed a small bump on her leg.
She later found out the bump was a spider bite and following a trip to the hospital after it became infected, the tourist found it had become ‘flesh eating’.
Alyssa Cassidy, 22, from Ontario, Canada was completing farm work in order to get a second working holiday visa so she could remain in Australia for another 12 months
Alyssa Cassidy had spent the day working in a shearing shed when she noticed a ‘lump’ on her leg which later became infected and ‘flesh eating’
Cassidy shared a warning to other travelers to ‘be aware’ of the dangers of spider bites to the Australia Backpackers 2020 Facebook group.
‘Just a reminder to folks in Aus or coming to Aus to be aware of spiders hiding in your backpack/clothes’ she wrote.
Cassidy explained to the group she’d spent the day working at the shearing sheds when she noticed a spot on her leg.
‘I later found to be a spider bite that became flesh eating within a few days..’
‘After a heap of peroxide and good dressing it ended up fine but just thought I’d share (yes I went to the hospital)’ she added.
Alyssa Cassidy posted a warning to other travellers to ‘be aware’ of the dangers of spiders in Australia and to check their backpacks and clothes regularly
Many of the group members were glad for the warning with one woman responding with ‘Thanks for the heads up, I’ll definitely check my shoes more regularly from now on since I always leave them outside’.
‘My white tale bite looked the same’ another woman wrote.
Others saw the humour in the situation since they knew the young woman was well on the road to recovery.
‘Make sure you don’t turn into Spiderman’ added a man.
Alyssa Cassidy went to the hospital after her spider bite became infected and is now on the road to recovery following her horror experience
Cassidy was completing 88 days of farm-work in a rural location in order to qualify for her second working holiday visa which would allow her to remain in Australia for another 12 months.
The Australian governments Health Direct website recommends applying a cold compress or ice pack directly to the area of most spider bites to relieve pain and to seek medical assistance if signs of an infection develop.
Unless it is suspected the person has been bitten by a funnel web spider which will be large and black looking.
In that case you should immediately call triple 000 and the victim should be immobilised while they wait for assistance.