Funnel-web Spider antivenom

Collecting venom from a Funnel-web Spider. Photo: © Australian Reptile Park.

An antivenom for the Sydney Funnel-web Spider was first developed for clinical use in 1981 By Dr Struan Sutherland and his team at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. No deaths have occurred since its introduction. At the same time Sutherland experimentally established the effectiveness of the compression/immobilisation first aid technique for funnel-web bite. Much of the venom for this research was supplied through a funnel-web venom milking program at the Australian Reptile Park. This antivenom has also been effective against other dangerous funnel-web spider species. As well, it has been successfully used in cases of mouse spider envenomation. Antivenom is held at major city and regional hospitals.

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Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002