A deadly spider infestation has left an eight-year-old girl with a hole in her hand and too scared to return to her home.
Abbie Kinnaird was rushed to hospital needing surgery and a skin graft after she was bitten by a brown recluse spider.
Pest
control officers have now warned Abbie's family not to return to their
home in Colchester, Essex after a suspected infestation of false widows
and brown recluse spiders - which have a venomous and potentially fatal
bite.
Abbie Kinnaird was hospitalised for several days after being bitten by a brown recluse spider.
A suspected brown recluse spider fell
from the bathroom ceiling and sank its fangs into her hand and two more
were found in her bed.
The brown
recluse spiders (pictured right) are thought to be hiding in the
family's toys and clothes and their bites can lead to necrosis of the
flesh. Left, Abbie's inflamed hand.
The spiders are thought to be hiding in the family's toys and clothes and their bites can lead to necrosis of the flesh.
The suspected
brown recluse spider fell from the bathroom ceiling and sank its fangs
into Abbie's hand, while two more were found in her bed.
The eight-year-old's mother Hayley Kinnaird eventually had to rush her to hospital where she was kept for four days.
Mother-of-two Hayley, 35, said: 'Abbie's terrified of going into the flat.
'The
[pest control] man said he could only see a couple of spiders but once
he started spraying he saw more of them including brown recluse spiders
and false widows.
'He
said that they could be hiding in toys and clothing and there was a
risk that some spiders would remain for several weeks until they come
into contact with the pesticide.
'He didn't recommend coming back to the house.'
Five-year-old
Branson Riley Carlisle from Alabama in America died after being bitten
by a brown recluse spider on his shoulder in November 2014.
The bite
started as a red spot before becoming sore, inflamed and black and Abbie
was given antibiotics before undergoing surgery and a skin graft .
While the eight-year-old has remained brave throughout her ordeal, she is terrified to return to her home.
Mrs
Kinnaird said the bite started as a red spot before becoming sore,
inflamed and black so she took her to a walk-in centre the following day
where Abbie was given a course of antibiotics.
A
week later the bite had not improved and Abbie developed bumps on her
arm and a rash so was advised to go to hospital, where she was
immediately put on a drip.
Mrs Kinnaird said: 'We were told she would need a skin graft and within a couple of hours she was sent into surgery.
'They cut out all the black and flushed out whatever was inside.'
Abbie
was hooked up to an antibiotic drip three times a day during her
four-day stay in hospital in a bid to flush out the infection from the
gaping wound which was the size of a 10p piece.
Since
leaving hospital Abbie has had three hospital check-ups with her mother
cleaning the wound and changing the bandages every other day.
Their landlady arranged for pest control experts to fumigate the house following the 'medium infestation'.
The schoolgirl has bruising on her arms after the bite - which could have had fatal consequences.
Hayley, Abbie and her 10-year-old brother Rhys have been staying with her mother in her one-bedroom flat.
Mrs
Kinnaird said: 'I've asked Colchester Council to see if they can set us
up with emergency housing but they say they've got nothing available,
and can only offer a hostel which I don't feel safe staying in with the
children.
'I'm
fuming, they don't seem to care. It's easy for them to say the spiders
will be gone but when you're eight and have spent four days in hospital
because of them saying the flat is fine and her bed won't have spiders
in it doesn't make it easier for her.'
A
Colchester Borough Homes spokesperson said: 'In this case the customer
was offered short-term temporary accommodation, but this was not taken
up.
'Our Housing Options Team offer housing advice and solutions to those who are threatened with homelessness.'
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