The Four-eyed Journal » Urban legends

E-mail hoax: Telamonia dimidiata spiders are not deadly

jhay — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:16:48 +0000

Just received an email from a good friend of mine warning me about the supposedly deadly Telamonia dimidiata spider.

The hoax, meaning this story is not true goes like this:

PLEASE READ, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT

Three women in North Florida turned up at hospitals over a 5-day period,
all with the same symptoms. Fever, chills, and vomiting,
followed by muscular collapse, paralysis and finally, death. There were no
outward
signs of trauma.

Autopsy results showed toxicity in the blood. These women did not know
each other and seemed to have nothing in common. It was discovered,
however, that they had all visited the same Restaurant (Olive Garden)
within days of their deaths. The Health Department descended on the
restaurant , shutting it down.
The food, water, and air conditioning were all inspected and tested, to no
avail.

The big break came when a waitress at the restaurant was rushed to the
hospital with similar symptoms. She told doctor that she had been on
vacation, and had only went to the restaurant to pick up her check.

She did not eat or drink while she was there, but had used the restroom.

That is when one toxicologist, remembering an article he had read, drove
out to the restaurant, went into the restroom and lifted the toilet seat .

Under the seat, out of normal view, was a small spider. The spider was
captured and brought back to the lab, where it was determined to be the
Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata), so named because of its
reddened flesh color; This spider’s venom is extremely toxic, but can take
several days to take effect. They live in cold, dark, damp climates, and
toilet rooms provide just the right atmosphere.

Several days later a lawyer from Jacksonville showed up at a hospital
emergency room. Before his death, he told the doctor, that he had been
away on business, had taken a flight from Indonesia ,changing planes in
Singapore , before
returning home. He did NOT visit (Olive Garden) while there. He did (as
did all of the other victims)have what was determined to be a puncture
wound, on his right buttock. Investigators discovered that the flight he
was on had originated in India ..

The Civilian Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered an immediate inspection of
the toilets of all flights from India and discovered the Two-Striped
Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata) spider’s nests on
4 different planes!

It is now believed that these spiders can be anywhere in the country.

So please, before you use a public toilet, lift the seat to check for
spiders. It can save your life!

Do not be afraid or worried because the story is not true. It’s a hoax, an urban legend that goes around the internet via email.

Here are the facts according to Wikipedia and Snopes.com:

In 2002 , the spider became the subject of an email hoax claiming that it was a fatal spider found lurking under toilet seats in North Florida. This hoax was a rehashing of an older email circulated in 1999 with similar claims, except under the name “South American Blush Spider (arachnius gluteus[sic])” – literally “butt spider”. It has also been found that similar email hoaxes(details of original changed here and there) has been found in other parts of the world claiming that the same thing happened in that country. No such events ever occurred.

The Telemonia dimidata or the two-striped telamonia is a true (see pictures here), living species of spider found in Singapore, India, Bhutan, and Indonesia. However, it’s venom is not toxic to humans. Bites from this spider are very, very rare.

Though this stories are a good read and could pass off as a good idea for a movie or novel, but let us be careful before believing anything we read in our email. It never hurts to be doubtful at times.

Lastly, read and do some research first before you forward any stories or warnings you receive via email, it will stop the spread of false information and lessen the useless emails that crowd your friends’ or contacts’ inbox.

Kidneys, kidnappers and organ donations

jhay — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:58:04 +0000

“Is it a move to gain (more) support from the Catholic Church?” This was the first thought that came to mind when I heard the news that government had suddenly imposed a moratorium on kidney transplants to foreigners.

Taking a second look, this is one good move made by the government. Finally, something positive has been done to the age-old issue of organ trafficking in the country, even foreigners refer to us as not only the “texting (SMS) capital of the world” but also, “kidney transplant capital of the world.” Iba talaga ang Pinoy!

However, we must be vigilant if we ever are to, in the words of Ducky Paredes, “clean up the kidney trade“.

Dr. Leonardo de Castro of the UP Bioethics program, in an interview by abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak explains why:

“kidney transplantation is not part of medical tourism, the opportunity for foreign patients to come to have their transplants done in the Philippines remains.”

De Castro said the new DOH policy must be viewed in light of developments on organ donation around the world.

In India, Pakistan, and China, De Castro said new laws have been passed to control the selling of organs.

If these new laws are able to limit kidney transplants in these countries, De Castro said the Philippines could end up receiving more foreign transplant patients.

De Castro said he has received reports that commercial kidney brokers are now looking at the Philippines as the alternative venue for their clients.

Of course the organ trade in the Philippines has spawned a “lucrative” black market long before this new policy of the DOH came out. Let me take you back to this article by John Einar Sandvand written way back in 1999 which was aptly titled, “Kidneys for Sale.” Then there’s that award-winning documentary by Jessica Soho of the same title that some of you may have already seen. The most latest account is in the form of special report on the Inquirer.net that says keen demand is what fuels global trade in body parts.

First it was rice, now organs! What’s next? Human souls? Kidding aside, awareness is the first key to addressing this issue both from the side of the government and of the people. Fortunately, this issue has been well documented and awareness has reached good levels. Good enough that it has caught attention of the government resulting in a policy change. For the people’s part, we must be vigilant in making sure the government follows through with concrete and practical steps that will remedy this issue.

However, I think things will speed up once the occupant of Malacanang is replaced because after all, kidney transplant to foreigners is part of its Medical Tourism Program in which organ transplant (kidney, bone marrow, liver) service being marketed worldwide.

Kidnappers and organs

Speaking of awareness and organ transplants, I cannot help but think that the hoax about a gang roaming around Southern Tagalog in a van abducting kids and taking their internal organs for patients needing transplants were connected to this recent turn of events.

The hoax spread like wildfire via text messages from gullible people who believed almost everything they read on the mobile phones nowadays. At its height of notoriety, student movements calling for truth and accountability, ultimately calling on GMA to resign or be ousted were also at its peak.

A good friend of mine was smart enough to see the connection; in a text message to me he said that it was a ploy to scare young kids from going outside and parents from letting their children to go outside as well. This would thin the crowds being amassed by the student movement and thus weaken their efforts of catalyzing change in our present times.

I must say that it, if it were true, has been quite effective. Parents became more strict with their children’s outdoor trips, the public has been distracted from NBN-ZTE controversy and all worried about expensive rice, summer getaways and the new PBB teen edition.

But, the fight is not yet over. Not by a long shot. Because the usurper is still in Malacanang, we’re still importing rice instead of producing it which is why poor Pinoys are still willing to sell their organs.