Deadly Irukandji jellyfish. Source: GondwanaGirl, Wikimedia Commons
Two people are in a stable condition after being stung by Irukandji jellyfish on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, on Saturday.
The two were airlifted from K’gari to Hervey Bay Hospital. While there have been a number of stings on the island since Christmas, these two are the first confirmed cases of Irukandji stings.
The first of these two cases is a primary school girl who was stung on her lower back and legs. She was administered first aid by her parents before being flown to Hervey Bay Hospital on a rescue helicopter. The second person stung also remains in a stable condition after being flown to Hervey Bay Hospital, but, for privacy reasons, has not provided any more information.
The RACQ helicopter rescue team has stated that there have been five suspected cases of Irukandji stings since Christmas. The rescue team said that “on Tuesday 27th December, three young girls – including two sisters – were flown to hospital in two separate missions, and on Wednesday 28th December, a young boy was also airlifted suffering symptoms of envenomation.”
However, a spokesperson from Hervey Bay Hospital said that only two of these cases were confirmed Irukandji stings. They said “the ED has just come back to me and confirmed that two cases of irukandji were brought in overnight… The patients are stable.”
The Irukandji jellyfish is a very small and very deadly type of box jellyfish. The sting of the Irukandji causes a number of very unpleasant symptoms known as Irukandji syndrome. These symptoms can be fatal and can include severe pain in the chest, abdomen and back, headache, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, and severe anxiety.
Being only two centimetres in diameter, it is very difficult for swimmers to spot Irukandji in the water.
