Giant Spiders in India Prompt A Panic

In Northeast India, an epidemic of biting spiders has caused a panic with the death of two citizens.

The species of spider is unidentified as of now; and believed to be a variation of a tarantula.

Authorities are unsure if the spider bite caused the deaths, or if it was the primitive treatment. Both victims were tended by witch doctors, who drained the wound with razor blades. Now the seven other confirmed citizens who were bitten were given antibiotics, and monitored for any changes.

Personally, this isn't really all too surprising to me, as I'm Bengali. Superstition runs amok in South Asia, especially the rural areas, where few are educated about anything at all really. In my opinion, to prevent deaths like these from happening, the gov't should focus its attempts on sanitation, alongside education.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/giant-hairy-spiders-spark-panic-in-northeast-india-bite-victims-trying-to-drain-wounds/2012/06/05/gJQAhFDDFV_story.html