Irukandji jellyfish hospitalises Australian Woman

Posted By Sara-Lise Haith on Sunday Apr 26, 2009 @ 06:40 in Scuba Diving

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A 46-YEAR-OLD Australian woman is in a stable condition in hospital after an apparent Irukandji jellyfish sting on the Great Barrier Reef.  An ambulance spokeswoman said the tourist was stung at Green Island, 27km offshore from Cairns, and was taken by Queensland Rescue helicopter to Cairns Base Hospital. A Cairns Base Hospital nurse manager said the woman was receiving pain relief and was being closely monitored.

Irukandji jellyfish are small and extremely venomous jellyfish that are found mostly near Australia, and which cause symptoms collectively known as Irukandji syndrome. There are two known species, Carukia barnesi and the recently discovered Malo kingi.  Like some other jellyfishes, the Irukandji have stingers (nematocysts) not only on their tentacles (on which the stingers are arranged in clusters that look similar to drops of water), but also on the bell. In addition, the venom is injected only from the tip of the stinger (nematocyst) rather than the entire length. This is why the initial sting is mild and there is a delayed reaction as the venom exerts its effects.

Irukandji syndrome is produced by a very small amount of venom and includes severe pains at various parts of the body (typically excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, and a burning sensation of the skin and face), headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, high heart rate and blood pressure.

When properly treated, a single sting is normally not fatal, but two people in Australia are believed to have died from Irukandji stings in 2002, greatly increasing public awareness of Irukandji syndrome. It is unknown how many other deaths from Irukandji syndrome have been wrongly attributed to other causes.

 More information on this jellyfish can be obtained at www.irukandjijellyfish.com.