4 Hospitalized To Date As Deadly Irukandji Jelly Heads South Along Queensland Coast

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Swimmers are being urged to take extra care in waters off Queensland amid warnings the deadly irukandji jellyfish is moving further south. Four people have been taken to hospital since Wednesday after suffering suspected irukandji stings off Queensland’s Fraser coast.

The irukandji – the world’s smallest and most venomous box jellyfish – is usually found in waters north of Mackay, about 700km further up the coast. The James Cook University associate professor Jamie Seymour said it was clear the species was following warming sea temperatures south. “We’ve got good data now that shows quite nicely that irukandji has been spreading down the east coast of Australia, moving slowly but surely southwards,” he told ABC radio.

“It’s only a matter of time before they get to the southern end of Fraser Island down to the Sunny coast.”

EDIT

Irukandji jellyfish are typically difficult to see as they are only roughly a cubic centimetre in size. Their potentially deadly stings can cause very high blood pressure or affect the heart. They can also cause severe muscular pain, anxious behaviour, headaches and vomiting. Stings should be doused in copious amounts of vinegar or seawater until medical help arrives, Kelly said.

EDIT/END

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/30/queensland-swimmers-warned-as-irukandji-jellyfish-heads-south

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