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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Georgia Bates

‘Most dangerous spider’ in Britain behind rise in hospital admissions

Experts say an “explosion” in the population of false widows is behind the doubling of hospital admissions from spider bites in England in the past decade.

One hundred admissions were a result of “contact with or the toxic effect of spiders” in 2025 compared with 47 in 2015, according to provisional NHS figures obtained under a freedom of information request.

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