It doesn't look that bad AC!!! You just be careful! Walk tall and carry a rolled up newspaper. Hope you're having a great time over there. Come home safely.

I feel for Anderson and his bug bite on the eye. It reminded me of the time when I was bitten by something on the eye during a house party and it itched like there was no tomorrow. My doctor prescribed something for the itching which I took and then decided to lay out by the pool of which I feel fast asleep only to wake up 4 hours later not only with a swollen eye but an incredible sun burn!

Thanks for tweeting! Looking forward to the interview and reports coming out of Ghana!

Anderson, how do you keep up the pace and find the energy and enough hours in the day to do your job? You do a great job, but I can't help but wonder what it would be like to be "Anderson Cooper" for a day or two.
The mother in me came out when I read you had a spider bite on your eye......I really wanted to say, "Put some ice on it, Anderson". Once a mother, always a mother, for me. Too bad that isn't true for all mothers. If you were my son I would have gotten you on the phone to get all the details. Glad you are going to be fine. You must be one tough and determined man to walk in your shoes everyday..........g

AC360 It was a bite of the Love of the AllAfrica Bite to Welcome you to the area not malaria LOVE YOU

oh the drama and benedryl moments! looking forward to the interview. again, be safe.

Sorry about the bite! I hate being bitten and hope it feels okay soon. If you can put a teabag on it that should help. Thanks for your reporting.

Well, I must say I am disappointed by your eye. I was hoping for something really juicy. Just put a cold compress on it, take an aspirin and call me in the morning.

Warm teabag that is.

hello anderson!! i am wondering how big that spider was.you,re eye does not look too bad !! maybe hope that the bed covers don,t fall to the floor during the night they sometimes crawl up that way.i sometimes get spider bites during the summer as i live in a basement suite i think they get up the bedskirt .take care!!!

@ anderson Love twitter, just got home from the city.. Checked my twitter updates and read about your interview, can't wait to see it next week, sounds very interesting. Ouch!, sorry to hear about the eye, chuckling about the Sylvester Stallone "Rocky" comment. Very funny Oh my word, I can not get the 99 Luftballons song out of my head now. I'll be singing it all night! Hope you and your team have a great time for the rest of your trip. Safe travels.

I visited Ghana 8 years ago and the tour guide at Cape Coast Castle lifted a prayer that one day an African-American president would visit the "Door of no return". It was such a profound statement and life changing experience that I wrote about it in my book, My Quest To Ghana. Today this prayer has been answered.
(see myquesttoghana.com)

Anderson - Thanks for the photographic proof! And the behind the scenes tweets. Saw a bit of your interview on CNN - looks to be pretty interesting. Looking forward to AC360 Monday and Tuesday night and the CNN special next weekend. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, get some rest (with the lights on!) and have safe travels on your return.

Soo sorry about your incident..maybe you'll have super powers! Spiderman..lol It doesn't look that bad. Take care..glad you're tweeting!

Terrible dear Anderson. Alaska fan hates spiders. Ikkk.

I think ya could have pawned it off on allergies!

Sorry for laughing Coop but it is too funny! Every time you all go anywhere one of you ALWAYS gets bitten! I guess it's the hangin' with Cooper curse and you got tagged this go round! LOL

Hope your eye feels better. But honestly I can't tell the difference! LOL

Cindy..Ga.

To AC: I know you probaly don't think its a big deal and all especially because the swelling has gone down but when you come back to the states you should go see an Optometrist and get your eye checked.

A, please be careful; does it hurt? I hope not....take care

Hey Anderson,
You are brave if you want to sleep with the lights on! I don't think I would want to see what bit me.It must have been erie walking through Cape Coast Castle. Just imagine the history behind it. And to think you actually got to see it first hand. I hope your eye is better.Try neosporin you probably don't have a first aid kit with you.Well I'll be watching the show Monday. Take Care!

Was the interview with President Obama solely regarding Cape Coast Castle?

Spider bite? Shouldn't someone monitor him in case he starts climbing walls or spinning webs?

It sounds like Anderson went to sleep without getting a medical check-up to make sure there was no slow acting toxin. There are insects with potent bites in that area. An unknown bite shouldn't be brushed off.

Hey, Anderson. The same thing happened to me in Puerto Rico. My experience was a little bit worse. My left eye was swollen shut from the upper lid and my right eye was halfway shut from the bottom lid. I had several other baseball sized bumps on my face and my neck and arms. Mosquito bites. I swell up from them all the time, but I"ve never had so many in one night. My sister stifled a scream when she saw me. Your swelling went down pretty quickly, I had mine for several days. But it was ok. You didn't look bad at all in the picture. Use a mosquito net and some repellent. Take care, Anderson.

hmmm... you are suppose to be sleeping...circles under the eyes could look worse! it's hard to say what's wrong w/ your eyes, but if u say they are swollen, sure they are...

Hi Anderson.

Hi Bloggers.

Hi Anderson, your picture looks so not all right, because it is really dangerous that you may have to use some of the preventive spiders bite medicine to treat your eye as fast as you may be able to do! I trully wish you may be able to treat your eye in the safe time. I wish you may will be ok with this so unfortunate thing that happened during your hard work time. Please be careful enough!

An

Sleep, no way would I get back into that bed, ha. I'm looking forward Anderson to seeing your interview. The trip must have been quite an experience and It's great that you get to share some of it, thanks again.

I was listening to CNN, about Barrack Obama trip to Ghana, Africa. Repeatedly, CNN caster used the first trip to Africa. I think it should be second trip to Africa because our President (Barrack Obama) had visited Egypt which is North Africa.

Looks like an alien is about to pop out of your eye

It doesn't look bad Im sure it will be just fine.

Have that looked at Mr. Cooper, it could be poisonous. Just saw the first family emerge from AFONE on their way back to the white house. Must be fun as a kid traveling on a plane like that. Get back safely yourself, Mr. Cooper.

Poor Anderson, you look like you just had fist fight with Obama.

It doesnt look that bad. Was the eye itself blood shot, any vision problems, itching or stinging in the eye?

Anderson, was the "door of no return" the one that was in the movie Amastad?
I live in Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History has an excellent African exhibit showing the slave trade–it really makes you realize the horros of it. The slave trade was inhuman

Hi Anderson- thanks for your awesome coverage; you get to do such fun stuff! Hope your poor eye feels better soon, may want to try an ice pack for some relief... and wear a mosquito net, unless you can find a spider net, lol… take care & stay safe!

Hope you get better real soon Anderson.... stupid spider that bit him, hope it dies!!!!!!!!!! =D

Hi Anderson Cooper,

Thank God you survived the bite you had. The risk you take as a person is awesome. Please be mindful with what you are dealing with. I know you are well travelled and experienced. Be smart is all I have to say. You will run into things as you go the outcome is really up to you. Your in charge so be careful and stay alert.

I'm wanting to share with you my thoughts regarding the Michael Jackson death. It's nothing important and I will send an e-mail once your back.

Take caution while you are travelling,
God Bless...
C.Caulien

I was watching the military channel and it shows how many trilions and trilions of dollars spent on WAR. If all the countries would just stop the fighting there probably wouldn't be anymore poverty in the world. Everyone would have a home and plenty of food. Doesn't everyone know were on this world togeather. Please Stop and wakeup before we kill everyone on earth and there will be no more starving humans. We only have one life and one world.

Oh, sorry about the spider bite. It doesn't look that bad. That aside, you got to be with the prez in Ghana for his historic visit! You are so lucky! I'll take the spider bite any day; well, maybe not. At least you have Dr. Gupta to call. Hope the rest of your trip goes more smoothly.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

About the spider and the obama . Mr. president i will put u in my prayer .God bless you you and ur family

Can't wait to see the interview. Good idea to leave the lights on.

Love the pic Anderson.
I hope your ok now!!!!!!
Take care.

I hate when that happens...

You are such a good trooper. Just make sure your own doctor checks that eyelid when you come back. Who knows on whom's eye that spider been before. Best wishes and btw that is a great idea to put your tweets on the blog. Easy to follow the course of events. From Stockholm, @SergioFlores_

So Anderson, what was more painful, the spider-bite or having to hear that "Bar-ack, Bar-ack O-Bama" song over and over again?

I really enjoyed reading your Twitter posts from Ghana – they were both informative and funny and I'm glad that you've recovered nicely from the spider bite – although I was kind of hoping to see a pic of you with your eyelid swollen shut...

Looking forward to your interview with President Obama.

LOL! Awww, you poor boo-boo! lol!

Oh my God !!

thank god, your eye looks better. I'm afraid your left eyelid was swollen badly when I knew this news from twitter. please be careful when you sleeping~~ btw, nice picture~~

I can't really tell there was a spider bite from the picture.

Hello Anderson,

Hopefully you have had the eye checked out and the room has been sprayed.

I look forward to seeing your interview with President Obama.

Sincerely,

Lisa L
Sydney, Australia

Anderson:
Thanks for the Tweets!
Looking forward to your interview with the President. I hope your eye is doing better now and that the swelling is gone. Hope you and the team have a safe trip home.

That's too bad about Anderson's eye.

He was bit by the travel bug but this incident would make a great plotline on "Fringe" .

What about ghana did you like? Besides the bite and all.

Sorry for laughing Coop but it is just too funny! Every time you all go anywhere one of you ALWAYS gets bitten! I guess it’s the hangin’ with Cooper curse and you got tagged this go round! LOL

Hope your eye feels better. But honestly I can’t tell the difference! LOL

Cindy..Ga.

Sorry about the spider bite. Question...Does the president keep his blackberry in his hand, looking down when he receives a call or message while you are doing the interview?

Eye looks OK. It is not that bad...

Does not look bad at all.

Anderson,
I hope you've fully recovered from the spider(?) bite. It's great you are able to post on TwitterBerry from Africa. It must have been incredible being at Cape Coast Castle with Pres. Obama. I'm looking forward to your interview. Stay safe!

Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite has new meaning for you!

Hey Anderson! You get bit by an African spider and your smiling?! What is up with that? oh yeah – it looks like you have another bite on the finger of which you're pointing to the spider bite on your eyelid. lol – time for you to come back home. Cheers
Eli

Anderson the spider bites was not that bad come on!! Don't shatter my manly man super reporter image of you. Either way your adorable and more importantly a remarable reporter

Anderson -

I have the utmost respect for your work. You bring all of us the story - from around the world to our backyard. KUDOS!

I have the utmost respect for your work.

I watched you on CNN drilling our President during the visit to Cape Castle in Ghana. You looked "MAHVELOUS" in your smartly tailored suit - seriously, you did! Our President was wearing a polo/golf shirt. Only a suggestion, dress down and you can still get your questions in.

Best regards and it was only a mosquito bite - not a spider bite! LOL

Gregory Herrera
Chiang Mai Thailand

It doesn't look so bad... I was expecting you to take a picture shouting "Adrien!" Thanks for everything you do!!

Hi, Anderson!

Oh, by the way you twitted, I thought your eye was worse.

In the movie "Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban", there is a scene that the ginger boy, Harry Potter's friend has a nightmare where he is being attacked by spiders and he shouted that the spiders will make him dance... lol ... this must be the nightmare of Anderson too!

I wish your best and thank you for Behind the Scenes and for the twitts ...

PS.
@andersoncooper, do you can read the replies in Twitter?

Well, it's not that bad! You still look better than the average newscaster.

hahaha, i got bitten by something in mexico on my lower lip, and it looked absolutely insane, like botox gone wrong. looking forward to watching the interview!

Not to bad. Glad it wasn't worse.

Hahaha! Yikes! Sorry, I know that isn't funny (maybe just a little). Did it itch or anything? Well, at least it's gone now! All of us are looking forward to the interview! Have a safe trip home.

Oh dear. I hope it wasn't serious. The picture was good enough for me.

Hi Anderson
OMG that's horribble that you got bit by a spider yikes ! I hate spiders I'm glad the swelling went down before you went to Interview President Obama .i don't blame you about sleeping with the light on becareful and safe travel home .

Michelle D.

Oh dear! Sorry about the insect bite. It probably never seen such clear blue eyes. Almost all of us have brown eyes.

hey anderson -another post – do you think you may stop referring to the captured and enslaved africans as "slaves" – i always had a problem with that. how about africans, or humans, or people or men, women and children...how about that?

I should think you have a doctor traveling with you on a trip like that.It may be an allergic reaction to a different environment. We carry some insect spray when traveling. Better luck next time. When will you going to Africa again?

Seriously? Can't see anything. Does Anderson need attention and pity that much? A CNN employee fell of a cliff and this is what the blog makes a bit deal out of?

Pathetic.

Anderson, Be careful with those bites. You had problems with your eye before. Hope you feel better.

Hope your feeling better.

Anderson, Nice shot! So I guess you are now CNN's official "spider man." Try and resist the urge to climb the CNN building!

Oh those Ghanaian spiders!

Enjoyed your tweeting Anderson! Sorry to hear you got bitten. Hope sleeping with the lights on calmed your nerves some! Can't wait for your interview with President Obama. It's exciting to be interviewing the President and all but at the end of the day there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed, is there? There's no place like home...

you call that a bite? lol j/k

curious about whether or not keeping the lights on helped.

Blog TO: @andersoncooper on twitter July 12, 2009 AC 360 from NY to Ghana . This blog says, I love the digital animation of the CNN station announcement of your Monday night exclusive interview with President Obama, showing the little circle, designating the degree symbol of a full circle of 360 degrees. May God be with you Anderson, have a safe trip home to NYC.

In a related story, FOX news crew were seen outside of a hotel in Ghana with what looked like an empty cage...

Hi AC

Sounds like you are having some great experiences in Ghana, what does the place sound and smell like. My impressions are that it is a vibrant country.

Certainly some of Ghana's history and especially the link with the transportation of slaves to America and my own countries role, in this ghastly period in human history are certainly worthy of reflection on how far we have come.

I think you are referring to the 80's classic – 99 Red Balloons, yes I am old enough to remember that song, not a tune you really want back in your head – thanks Anderson !

You might want to try some salty water on that bite, might help keep it clean and should be safe to use on your eye area.

Glad your eye is doing better! I'm looking forward to the interview and I hope you get home safely and soon.

Anderson Cooper is running for "who got the scarriest face, after travelling to a tropical zone" !!! and the most sun burns !!!

Feel better, Anderson! Hope it wasn't painful and not too much of a drag. Btw, it doesn't look too bad...

Yep! It's an eight-legged world out there! I was biitten on my poor little leg last night.I was moving the furniture around, cleaning, at my service recipient's house and got the little, small things stired up. I'm a personal Assistant to an Easter Seals recipient. I think I need to call an exterminater for him! You know, maybe the room you stayed in should have been cleaned better.

Donna Wood
Lexington, Tennessee

I'm so sorry about your eye! I would be mortified.

The journalist's life is hard, but worth it when the news reaches the people, making them think.

Thanks!

ohh dear the ups and downs of life in the tropics.

It just hit me, did you tell the President of the United States Of America that you got a Boo Boo on your eye, ohh dear Mr .Copper.

I'm really enjoying all of the Tweets. I'm sorry that you were bitten by something though! That just sounds awful. I can't wait to see the interview with President Obama, I've been looking forward to it. Try not to get attacked by anything else!

i bet it was a mosquito

Rub that Avon Skin so Soft lotion all over yourself and the bugs and spiders will stay away. They can't advertise it as bug repellent but it's well known that it works.

I was bit by a black widow. I survived.

Stick a Sponge-Bob bandaid on it for your next telecast. Now that would be fun.

A, I hate spiders that bite my favorite guy in the media. Your show is great.

Your interview with Mr.Obama showed he is getting grey hair.

Hellooo Anderson!!!!
Wow! That is so scary I saw you bitten by spider!!!! I have once bitten spider before, I hate this!!!! Be careful and look out for spider, I am really exciting forward see you will interview our Pres. Obama in Ghana. Thanks for tweeting me for updates, I am really praying for you come home safety to NYC! Take care Anderson! Good luck!

Glad you eye is getting better .... Could you imagine what those poor slaves went through living in those dungeons ... Get well soon ...

Hey Anderson – Glad to see your ok. It actually doesn't look too bad – hopefully you got a good nights sleep and didn't have to sleep with the lights on....or had dreams of spiders crawling on you (which is actually what I would've done and been up all night...)

Enjoy the rest of your trip to Ghana and have safe travels back!

Taunya

AC that not a spider bite. Its a mosquitoe bite. I have had it ever since I was born in Africa. I am from Sierra Leone. So, its something normal. Your blood is normal thats why your eyes was swollen. It causes Malaria too... and it is also the fastest means of transporting HIV/AIDS from one medium to another, in africa.

ice always bring puffiness down quickly.

It didn't look that bad during the interview, might not have noticed if it wasn't mentioned.

be careful...lots of strange crawling things there.

Make sure you get checked by an eye doctor when you return.

Oh com'on Man~! It's not that bad. Yeah sometimes that tiny thing decides your feeling right? =)

anderson! the spider just want to love you just like everyone else. seriously, thank God it wasn't any serious. The bite, I mean. About everyone loving you? That's serious. hehehehhe ... take care!

Margaret is correct, warm/hot teabag (caffeine is the key here) draws out the histamine agent (bee stings, bug bites..stops the itch) by opening the pores, but to make the swelling go down....Ice or something cold...to constricts the vessels.

Great trick for showing up to set with only 3 hours of sleep...;-)

I agree w/ one of your viewer’s comment, you should have your eye checked by an ophthalmologist preferably… just b/c a pigeon flew over this morn, nipped my ears and said, “stop messing w/ the pretty boy…spider bite or not, he should have it checked…”
And maybe go get a physical done as well…while you are at it, might as well see your dentist, dermatologist…who else do you see???

And of course you can tell the doctor(s) the truth that your hypochondriac narcissistic obsessed viewer(s) would like a report…

By the way, you looked wonderful. It was a little hard to tell which eye though...just kidding... really... pls don't punish your faithful viewers b/c of one insane person!!!

The president is right Anderson. It did not look so bad.

anderson u'r funny. .ha. ha..am amused u really took time to photograph the bite and show it to ur fans. . .it .could be a bite by a cockcroach?. . .take care always. .

You are very cute !! I love u Anderson !!

You didn't take a Benadryl, Anderson? Sometimes, BTW, people mistake spider bites with MRSA, so please be careful. Or you could have had bed bugs! (Perish the thought!). You also might have had angioneurotic edema (an allergic reaction to food, flora, drugs, etc.), so please let Dr. Gupta know what happened.

Hmm...not really that noticeable from this angle. Why do you think it's a spider?
I've to agree with you. Better to sleep with the lights on. I hope you did.
Take care...

I'm so glad you're tweeting!
As for the bug bite...that doesnt look in the least bit horrid Hope you're better tho'. Saw bits of your interview last night (India time) and hope to catch the rest of it when it airs here. And btw...Im so glad you got out of the studio and headed to Africa.
Stay safe. Stay strong!

Hey Coop.... next you look at the mirror... your eyes might turn black and become evil.... heck.. you might even eat up Molly... who knows what kind of virus the spider had.. maybe the Alaskan nuked mutated "I-see-russia-from-my-backyard" virus... who knows.....

Sorry about your mishap. But, the President is right – it's not so bad from what I can tell from the picture. Sounds like a real adventure, you'll be alright. Looking forward to your reports – take care. Talk to you later.

Doesn't look bad. I thought it would be worst

Mr. Cooper,

My great grandparents were slaves in America. They were granted the opportunity to become Americans, denied the opportunity to be educated, legally separated by race, and more. If you think we should consider forgetting slavery, are you asking me to forget my great grandparents? I cannot discuss my genealogy without entering the subject of slavery. Do you talk about your great grandparents? I am interested in what President Obama has to say about this topic and your question.

Anderson
I hope your eye feels better it doesn't look too bad in the picture Take care and safe travel home .

It could have been worse, based on your recent travel nightmares. When I visited my sister in Ivory Coast, she suggested sleeping on the screened-in porch at night. She warned me of what creatures I might be bedding with but insisted it would be much cooler than sleeping inside. I don't think I slept at all that night, and I insisted we sleep indoors the rest of my trip.